Obituary of James Arnold

James R. Arnold, 86 of 3074 Muscatine Avenue, Iowa City, died Saturday, April 28, 2007, at Iowa City Rehabilitation and Health Center. Funeral services will be held at 3pm Wednesday, May 2, 2007, at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City with the Reverend John Raab officiating. Burial with Masonic Honors will be at the West Branch Cemetery. Visitation will be from 1pm until services on Wednesday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Jim's memory to the Shriners Crippled Children Hospital or the American Heart Association. Online condolences may be sent for Jim's family through the web @www.gayandciha.com. James Richard Arnold was born December 23, 1920, in Cosby, MO the son of Joseph and Naomi (Beck) Arnold. He graduated from Garden Grove High School, Garden Grove, Iowa and attended and graduated from Iowa State University in Ames with his degree in Veterinary Medicine. During WWII he served in the United States Army. He was married to Ruth Wagner Arnold until her death in 1971; he later married Hazel Arnold in 1972. Hazel died in 1994. For many years Jim was a veterinarian in West Branch and later served as a State of Iowa Meat and Poultry Inspector until his retirement in 1982. He and his family lived in West Branch from 1945 until moving to Iowa City in 1972. During his time in West Branch he had served as the town's mayor and belonged to the Masonic Lodge. He also was a longtime member of the K.A.A.B.A. Shrine, receiving his fifty year pin a number of years ago; also a member of the Eastern Iowa Veterinarian Association as well as the State of Iowa Veterinarian Association. Upon his retirement in 1982 Jim had the opportunity to enjoy his love of fishing and collecting antique clocks with more time and passion. His family includes a son, Richard Arnold of Iowa City; brother, Lester Arnold of St. Petersburg, FL; sisters-in-law, Bessie Arnold of Iowa City, and Jean Arnold of St. Petersburg, FL; and several nieces and nephews. Jim was preceded in death by his parents, wives, and two brothers, Joe and Lee Arnold.