James E. Arends, 89, of Grand Island died Monday, Aug. 8, 2016, at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Mass of Christian burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church with the Rev. Martin Egging officiating. Entombment will be in Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery. Apfel Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Mr. Arends was born July 25, 1927, in Hastings, the son of Conrad and Dora (Dingwerth) Arends. He attended Archer Public Schools.

He entered the United States Army in September 1948 and was honorably discharged in September 1953. He served during the Korean War.

He was united in marriage to Bertha Fuller on April 12, 1950, in St. Paul. The couple moved to Grand Island in 1951 and lived there until moving to Cairo in 1983. They returned to Grand Island in 1998. Mrs. Arends preceded him in death on May 10, 1998.

He was employed by Glade Tire Service for 20 years and then owned and operated Arends Auto Service for 17 years. He retired in 1989.

He was a member of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, Eagles, Optimists and Odd Fellows clubs. He loved his animals, enjoyed camping with his wife and was a very special dad, grandpa and Big Papa.

Those left to cherish his memory include two sons and daughters-in-law, James and Marilyn Arends of South Sioux City, and Timothy and Mary Arends of Grand Island; one daughter and son-in-law, Karen and Tom Mettenbrink of Grand Island; two grandchildren and spouses, Travis and Cassie Mettenbrink of Omaha and Jason and Nichole Hablitzel of York; six great-grandchildren, Andee Mettenbrink, Ashley Mettenbrink, Hailee, Carter, Brooklyn and Kadence Hablitzel; and special nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; nine brothers, Theodore, John, Conrad, Edward, Lawrence, Bob, Leonard, Raymond and George; and two sisters, Dorothy Paup and Sister Alexis (Marie) Arends.