Obituary: Jeff Daniel Arnold

Jeff Daniel Arnold, Sr., age 99 of Clare, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, December 7, 2022 at the Niche Senior Care Assisted Living of Clare, with his family by his side. On March 13, 1923, Jeff was born the eldest child to Leonard and Bessie (Evans) Arnold in Peerless, Texas, where Jeff grew up and resided into his late teens. At just the age of seventeen, Jeff embraced his “Tough Texan” upbringing and enlisted into the Army Air Corps to aid in the WWII effort as part of the 39th squadron, but it didn’t take the Army long to identify Jeff’s culinary skills as he became an accomplished baker during his enlistment—a skill and passion that followed him throughout his entire life. When the war effort was over, Jeff travelled right to the Central Michigan area to find work with relatives that had careers in the oil fields, a decision that would prove fruitful after thirty-plus years of service as an oil driller before his mid 80’s retirement from North American Drilling. Jeff met his first love Elsie M. Barnhouse shortly after arriving in Michigan, and the couple was united in marriage on May 1, 1948, and shared thirty wonderful years together until Elsie’s passing in November of 1978. On February 9, 1984, Jeff entered his second marriage to Madelyn M. VanBuskirk, and she survives him. Along with his love for baking, Jeff also took joy in watching westerns, reading the tabloids, and he was an accomplished builder and cabinet maker. However, those that knew Jeff well, knew that his family was the thing that he most passionate about. Jeff is survived by his children Craig (Ann Metzger) Arnold of San Rafael, CA. and Jill (Jim) Archbold of Farwell, his wife Madelyn Arnold of Farwell, his stepson Ona Hinkle of Farwell, and his grandchildren Danielle, Sierra, Hattie, Derek, Megan, Skyler, Jarred, and Tony. Other survivors include his twelve great-grandchildren and his siblings Billy (Katherine) Arnold of Grand Prairie, TX and Helen (Fred) Lock of Fort Worth, TX. Jeff was preceded in death by his parents Leonard and Bessie Arnold, his first wife Elsie Arnold, his son Jeff Arnold, Jr., and his siblings Lasca Hahn and Mary Jo Williams. In keeping with Jeff’s wishes, cremation has taken place. A celebration of life service will be held in Jeff’s honor in the spring of 2023 near the time that would be his 100th birthday, at a location yet to be decided. His final resting place will be in Farwell’s Surrey Township Cemetery. Memorial contributions in honor of Jeff may be directed to the Care Team Hospice, and online condolences may be shared on the Arnold family page at www.stephenson-wyman.com