Rodger Arends (1933-2008)

ARENDS, READ, ARENDTS, BENNETT, HENDERSON

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 10/30/2008 at 20:10:03

THE STORY CITY HERALD, Story City, Story County, Iowa, Wednesday, October 15, 2008.

Rodger Arends, 75, of Story City, passed away Tuesday, October 7, 2008 at Israel Family Hospice House in Ames. Services were held Friday, Oct. 10 at 1 p.m. at St. Petri Lutheran Church in Story City with the Rev. Thomas Reuss officiating. Burial was at Lawn Hill Cemetery in Stanhope.

Rodger Arends was born March 18, 1933 in Webster City to Arthur 0. and Verna Mae (Read) Arends. He attended and graduated from Stanhope High School in 1951. He was in the U.S. Army from 1953 - 1955 during the Korean War. On April 18, 1959 he was united in marriage with Martha Aim Arendts in Stanhope. They moved to Story City in 1997.

Rodger was a lifelong farmer in the Stanhope area, a DeKalb seed corn dealer and sold Dixon lawn mowers for many years. He and Martha owned and operated "The Christmas Stocking" gift shop in Story City for 23 years. He was a member of St. Petri Lutheran Church, the Kohinoor Masonic Lodge #576 for over 50 years, a former church board chairman and board member, and a member of the Farmer State Bank Board. Rodger enjoyed his retirement in Story City, playing golf and poker with the guys, visiting over a cup of coffee and having breakfast with his friends. He loved spending time with his family.

Survivors include his wife, Martha Arends of Story City; children, Curtis Jay Arends of Runnells, Iowa and Julie Ann Bennett of Runnells; brother, Clint (Lila) Arends of Stanhope; sister, Cleo Henderson of Fort Dodge; sister-in-law, Faye Arends of Gilbert, three grandchildren, Jennifer, Andrew, and Matthew Bennett, and several nieces and nephews, and great-nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and twin brother Rodney in 1996.

Visitation was held Thursday, Oct. 9 from 5 - 7 p.m. at Soderstrum Funeral Home in Story City.