Donald was born October 2, 1937 in Austin, MN to Ray and Wanda (Stice) Arnold. He graduated from Austin High School in 1956 and served four years in the U.S. Air Force from 1957 to 1960. Don married Barnetta Stewart in 1961 and they were later divorced. He worked at the Red Owl Store, Austin Utilities and in 1968 started at Hormel & Company along with a part time position at Riverside Arena. In 1991 he married Jean (Loecher) Ryks. In 2002 he retired from Hormel after he had worked for thirty four years. During his retirement, he enjoyed several part time jobs and helped friends and family until a stroke started to slow him down.
Don was a fun person who enjoyed family and friends. His greatest pleasures were his children, grandchildren and step-grandchildren. Don enjoyed all athletic activities in his younger years. He played softball, tennis, golf, and all other sports which led him to coach little league baseball, flag football and hockey, much to the dismay of his sons who played all three.
Donnie or Squirt, as he was most often called, was the favorite uncle of all his nieces and nephews as he was a great teaser and a willing helper wherever he was needed. Don also tended bar as a second job in several downtown Austin establishments. He was a past member of the Moose, Eagles and Elks Clubs.
He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers Deryl, Dick and Bob.
Donnie is survived by his wife, Jean Arnold, Austin, MN; children: Kevin (Lenise) Arnold, Austin, MN, Keith (Amy) Arnold, Lenexa, KS, Christy (James) Harris, Wheaton, IL, and Thad Arnold, Cumming, GA; 15 grandchildren; three great grandchildren; step children: Terry Ryks (Belinda Nemmers) Faribault, MN, Tammy (Joe) Christianson, Austin, MN and Todd (Shelly) Ryks, Minnetrista, MN; brother: Larry Arnold, Banning, CA; sister-in-law: Cora Arnold, Owatonna, MN; nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, January 29th at St. Augustine Catholic Church with Father James Steffes officiating. Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery with Austin Post #91 American Legion in charge of military rites. Visitation will be at Clasen-Jordan Mortuary on Thursday from 5:00 to 7:00 pm and at the church on Friday for one hour before the service.
Reprinted from Clausen Jordan Mortuary
Don was a fun person who enjoyed family and friends. His greatest pleasures were his children, grandchildren and step-grandchildren. Don enjoyed all athletic activities in his younger years. He played softball, tennis, golf, and all other sports which led him to coach little league baseball, flag football and hockey, much to the dismay of his sons who played all three.
Donnie or Squirt, as he was most often called, was the favorite uncle of all his nieces and nephews as he was a great teaser and a willing helper wherever he was needed. Don also tended bar as a second job in several downtown Austin establishments. He was a past member of the Moose, Eagles and Elks Clubs.
He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers Deryl, Dick and Bob.
Donnie is survived by his wife, Jean Arnold, Austin, MN; children: Kevin (Lenise) Arnold, Austin, MN, Keith (Amy) Arnold, Lenexa, KS, Christy (James) Harris, Wheaton, IL, and Thad Arnold, Cumming, GA; 15 grandchildren; three great grandchildren; step children: Terry Ryks (Belinda Nemmers) Faribault, MN, Tammy (Joe) Christianson, Austin, MN and Todd (Shelly) Ryks, Minnetrista, MN; brother: Larry Arnold, Banning, CA; sister-in-law: Cora Arnold, Owatonna, MN; nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, January 29th at St. Augustine Catholic Church with Father James Steffes officiating. Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery with Austin Post #91 American Legion in charge of military rites. Visitation will be at Clasen-Jordan Mortuary on Thursday from 5:00 to 7:00 pm and at the church on Friday for one hour before the service.
Reprinted from Clausen Jordan Mortuary
Donald was born October 2, 1937 in Austin, MN to Ray and Wanda (Stice) Arnold. He graduated from Austin High School in 1956 and served four years in the U.S. Air Force from 1957 to 1960. Don married Barnetta Stewart in 1961 and they were later divorced. He worked at the Red Owl Store, Austin Utilities and in 1968 started at Hormel & Company along with a part time position at Riverside Arena. In 1991 he married Jean (Loecher) Ryks. In 2002 he retired from Hormel after he had worked for thirty four years. During his retirement, he enjoyed several part time jobs and helped friends and family until a stroke started to slow him down.
Don was a fun person who enjoyed family and friends. His greatest pleasures were his children, grandchildren and step-grandchildren. Don enjoyed all athletic activities in his younger years. He played softball, tennis, golf, and all other sports which led him to coach little league baseball, flag football and hockey, much to the dismay of his sons who played all three.
Donnie or Squirt, as he was most often called, was the favorite uncle of all his nieces and nephews as he was a great teaser and a willing helper wherever he was needed. Don also tended bar as a second job in several downtown Austin establishments. He was a past member of the Moose, Eagles and Elks Clubs.
He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers Deryl, Dick and Bob.
Donnie is survived by his wife, Jean Arnold, Austin, MN; children: Kevin (Lenise) Arnold, Austin, MN, Keith (Amy) Arnold, Lenexa, KS, Christy (James) Harris, Wheaton, IL, and Thad Arnold, Cumming, GA; 15 grandchildren; three great grandchildren; step children: Terry Ryks (Belinda Nemmers) Faribault, MN, Tammy (Joe) Christianson, Austin, MN and Todd (Shelly) Ryks, Minnetrista, MN; brother: Larry Arnold, Banning, CA; sister-in-law: Cora Arnold, Owatonna, MN; nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, January 29th at St. Augustine Catholic Church with Father James Steffes officiating. Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery with Austin Post #91 American Legion in charge of military rites. Visitation will be at Clasen-Jordan Mortuary on Thursday from 5:00 to 7:00 pm and at the church on Friday for one hour before the service.
Reprinted from Clausen Jordan Mortuary
Don was a fun person who enjoyed family and friends. His greatest pleasures were his children, grandchildren and step-grandchildren. Don enjoyed all athletic activities in his younger years. He played softball, tennis, golf, and all other sports which led him to coach little league baseball, flag football and hockey, much to the dismay of his sons who played all three.
Donnie or Squirt, as he was most often called, was the favorite uncle of all his nieces and nephews as he was a great teaser and a willing helper wherever he was needed. Don also tended bar as a second job in several downtown Austin establishments. He was a past member of the Moose, Eagles and Elks Clubs.
He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers Deryl, Dick and Bob.
Donnie is survived by his wife, Jean Arnold, Austin, MN; children: Kevin (Lenise) Arnold, Austin, MN, Keith (Amy) Arnold, Lenexa, KS, Christy (James) Harris, Wheaton, IL, and Thad Arnold, Cumming, GA; 15 grandchildren; three great grandchildren; step children: Terry Ryks (Belinda Nemmers) Faribault, MN, Tammy (Joe) Christianson, Austin, MN and Todd (Shelly) Ryks, Minnetrista, MN; brother: Larry Arnold, Banning, CA; sister-in-law: Cora Arnold, Owatonna, MN; nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, January 29th at St. Augustine Catholic Church with Father James Steffes officiating. Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery with Austin Post #91 American Legion in charge of military rites. Visitation will be at Clasen-Jordan Mortuary on Thursday from 5:00 to 7:00 pm and at the church on Friday for one hour before the service.
Reprinted from Clausen Jordan Mortuary
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