Arnold "Arnie" Deist

January 07, 2017

Arnold "Arnie" Deist

Service Details

Arnie’s Story

Arnold “Arnie” Deist was born on September 22, 1927 in Audubon, IA. He had one sister named Evelyn. He lost his father at the age of 15 and lost his mother at the age of 30. He married his wife Adellia “Dee” on September 26, 1945. Approximately 10 years later they moved to Des Moines. They had 3 children Donna, Ron Sr. and Debbie.

When Arnie first came to Des Moines he worked for Flynn Dairy as a route driver. His daughter Donna has memories of helping him deliver milk and putting it in the milk boxes outside on the porch. In Des Moines they ran multiple service stations including the Standard Stations that were located on 14th and Indianola Road, 2nd Ave and York and Maxwelton Dr; KerrMcgee located on SW9th and Fina on SW 9th. One of Arnie’s favorite past times was driving the tow truck for the service station. His granddaughter DeAnna recalls a memory where she was riding with him and he recognized someone he knew in front of them. Arnie got up on the guys bumper and ended up pushing him down the road… laughing all the way. His daughter Debbie recalls hanging out in the camper while they worked and Arnie would buy her bottles of Pepsi and a steak on almost a daily basis.

Later Arnie and Dee spent their time traveling the US in a motor home selling tools. His grandkids will always remember them coming back with the loot of penny candy – by the bags full - he and grandma would pick up at gas stations. In the late 1980’s they moved to Berwick, IA where they managed Sunnybrook Mobile Home Park for over 20 years. Here he and Dee worked side by side doing everything from office work to outdoor park maintenance including mowing the entire park which was one of Arnie’s favorite things along with pushing the snow in the winter time. Several of his grandkids first summer jobs were working at the park with him mowing, reading water meters and delivering water bills. In 1991 they purchased a small farm outside of Baxter, IA where for a time they raised pigs and a few cows also with the assistance of their grandkids. Thus the reason for “Arnie’s pigs”.

Arnie and Dee both enjoyed multiple vacation trips with their grandkids including fishing trips to Canada, a flight to California and a road trip to Montana to visit family. His wife Dee was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2001 and passed January 1, 2003. Arnie retired 4 years later from Sunnybrook MHP in 2007 at the age of 80. He has 6 grandchildren Lonnie & DeAnna, Ron Jr and Michelle, and Christy, Bobby and Jason. He also has 15 great grandchildren Brayden, Caleb, Noah and Jonah; Madison and Blaine; Makayla; Taylor, Destiny, Colten and Kollen and Katie, Abby, Nate and Chloe.

Arnie came to Senior Suites in February 2016 and had since reunited with his childhood friend John Dawson who also resides here.

Condolences may be expressed at:
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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