Robert ‘Bob’ Arnold

Robert “Bob” Arnold, 87, of Shannon City died Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021, in Des Moines. Celebration of Life services will be 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021, at Powers Funeral Home, 601 New York Ave. in Creston.

Pastor Dwayne Henrichs and Rev. Jim Morris will officiate. Masks and social distancing are required. The service will also be livestreamed on Powers Funeral Home Facebook Page. Burial will be later in the Iowa Veterans Cemetery in Van Meter. Open visitation will be 2 to 8 p.m. Friday, with family receiving friends from 6 to 8 p.m. at Powers Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are to be established. Online condolences may be made at www.powersfh.com.

Robert Lee (Bob) Arnold was born Oct. 17, 1933, at home in Sand Creek Township, Union County, to Thomas Alvin and Gladys Elvira (Smith) Arnold. He first lived near Arispe, then north of Afton.

On June 1, 1953, Bob and Beverly Joan Hannah of Tingley were married. In March 1957, Bob was drafted into the U.S. Army, being assigned to Germany.

In 1958, Joan joined Bob in Germany. Discharged from the U.S. Army, they returned to Iowa and started to farm again. Bob and Joan raised three sons: Thomas, Scott and David.

On 1965, Bob worked at UPS retiring in 1988. During that time, he and his sons managed a cow-calf herd for James Woods. He then drove a school bus for East Union for 16 years.

Studying at The World Wide College of Auctioneering, Bob launched an auctioneering business with Joan for 20 years. Bob and Joan divorced in 1993.

On June 11, 1994, Bob and Patsy (Gaule) Beadel committed their lives and love to each other. Bob and his three sons joined Patsy’s daughter Gina and son Rob, making a new family together, settling in Shannon City.

He adored his grandkids, loved to visit the farm and spend time with the horses, play 10-point pitch and many other games.

Bob served on the Shannon City Council and was mayor at one time. Bob was also a member of the American Quarter Horse Association, the Teamster Retirees and the American Legion.

Bob and Patsy were married June 11, 2007, at the Arispe Methodist Church, exactly thirteen years after beginning their lives together.

In 2015, they sold the farm and Bob retired. When Bob was 86, he wrote a book entitled “One Old Cowboy’s True Horse and Mule Stories”

Surviving loved ones are his wife, Patsy Luella Arnold; three sons: Tom (Denise) Arnold, Scott (Claudia) Arnold and David (Natalie) Arnold; two step-children, Gina (Brian) Tener and Rob Beadel; grandchildren: Clay (Maggie) Arnold, Cali (Scott) Benson, Ryan, Janelle, Colin, Tyson, Addison, Gracen Arnold, Nicole and Jace Tener, Ryan McGhee, Corbin, Mason (Jennifer) and Thane Simmons; great-grandsons: Dash and Duke Arnold, Raylan Simmons; first wife, Joan Arnold; nieces and nephews.

Bob was preceded in death by parents Thomas and Gladys Arnold (1983), two sisters Lois (Lyle) Larson and Betty (Gerald) Nixon and brother Sandy (Shirley) Arnold.