Spencer Arnold
January 29, 1992 ~ May 2, 2016
Spencer Evan Arnold, 24, passed away on Monday, May 2, 2016, at University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, Iowa City. Family and friends will gather from 3-7 p.m. on Friday, May 6, 2016, with a special sharing of memories at 7 p.m. at Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Mount Vernon. Military honors will be provided by the Iowa National Guard Funeral Honor Guard.
Survivors include his mother, Wendy (Bill) Burkle of Mount Vernon; father, Mark (Sarah Thomas) Arnold of Yukon, Oklahoma; siblings, Chelsea (Spencer) Ammons, Samuel and Lauren; grandparents, Susan (William) Thomas of Cedar Rapids, Terry Johnson of Sun City, Florida, Ruth Arnold of Ottumwa, and Walter and Verna Mae Burkle of Dyersville; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.
Spencer was born on January 29, 1992, in Ottumwa. He grew up in the Mount Vernon and Iowa City area, graduating from West High School in 2010. Spencer joined the Iowa National Guard in 2009, and honorably served for six years. Recently he was working for Dillard's in Coralville. Spencer loved being outdoors, especially camping and fishing and riding ATVs with his family and friends at Holiday Lake. He also enjoyed numerous trips with his dad, and loved animals including his pug, Cash.
Spencer will be remembered for his one-of-a-kind sense of humor and living on the edge. He was and always will be loved and adored by his parents, siblings, and extended family.
He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Jack Arnold and great grandparents, D.B. and Dottie Arnold and Frieda Oswalt.
A memorial fund has been established.
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Dear Susan and family, so very sorry to hear about your grandson. May your faith get you thru this hard time. I will keep you and family in my prayers. God Bless.—- cousin Sherry
Thank you so very much.
I will always remember what a big heart Spencer had. The sound of his cowboy boots as he walked at work. He always had a smile on his face. He willed be deeply missed. But never forgotten.
I’m so sorry , Sue. Wendy, I’m so sorry to see this Gerry and mine thoughts are with you all. We never got to meet Spencer but we know what a fine young man he was with you as his mother. He will be missed by many that knew him but he will NEVER forgotten. Love you
I sat at his favorite bar hoping he would just walk through the door tonight. Even though he and I weren’t the best of friends, he was still there on my 21st birthday and treated me like he was my brother. I can’t believe he’s gone.
We had some pretty funny and wild adventures. We wrote poetry & drank beer together. We drove for hours going nowhere with the windows down, chasing thunder storms. He taught me how to play pool (i’m still terrible at it) and was bent over laughing when I broke a pitcher with my pool stick. We got stuck pushing his car in the snow through a blizzard in the middle of the night and still had a great time. I’m never going to find another wild spirit like that. See you on the other side dude. Miss you.
My deepest condolences for your family and loved ones, Spence.
I’ll never forget the day we met; you leaning and rocking off the bar table on your birthday, me calling you Johnny Bieber and us getting rowdy downtown then dipping before we got in trouble. 🙂 We fought like cats and dogs the entire ride home but by the next morning we had sushi and spent the day doing donuts in the snow around town in the V-dub. 🙂 In one day, you stole my heart. I miss riding around with you on your delivery routes , talking to you for hours and dancing in the living room until we were on the ground laughing like we were kids again. I’ll carry your light with me forever, Sweet. I miss you and can’t wait until we meet again.
I just can’t believe it. I remember being with Mark and Wendy when he was born. My heart goes out to you all.
Kathy Gleich Davis
We are so very sorry for your loss. Please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers.
I fell head over heels for this man the first night I met him. It was his handsome smile that got me. The months we spent together I will never forget. He taught me how to be free, let go and love wildely. We never had a dull moment in our relationship. It was always filled with so much passion.
I will forever treasure the moments I had with him. And I will always miss the spencer I knew and loved.
Thank you from the “pretty lady” and me. We enjoyed our time with you and Spence.
My thoughts go out to all his family, I know they loved and cherished him deeply. I’ll always remember you with your dashing smile and your charming laugh that made me fall in love you you the moment I met you. We spent many days together that I’ll never forget. You were a whirlwind of energy and many jokes, always finding a way to make me laugh. You always had a great spirit, one that I’ll never forget. I loved you then and I’ll continue to love you now, you’ll always be in my heart and I’ll miss you dearly Spencer.
Our thoughts go out to Mark, Wendy and the whole family in the loss of Spencer. He will be remembered by his million dollar smile and his kind heart. Hugs.
Grant & Rita Wolf
one of 22! I will never forget many of days and nights of your dad and I having a few cocktails with you and stogies. I bet you will tell some good stories about us up in heaven! Love yah and God Bless
Oh the unforgettable Spencer. My heart is heavy for his family and friends that are grieving. Although him and I bumped heads, I will never forget the short time he was in my life. Of course his bright smile and eyes could never be erased from my head. The way he layed next to me and talked about how much he loved oreos and explained to me how to dip them in milk properly. Listening to him reminis about his time in the military. And of course seeing him in a sling speedo is an image that I can never stop laughing about. Spencer had a carefree lifestyle. He didn’t care what others thought about him and just went with the flow day by day. He will be in my thoughts often.
Mark and family. My thoughts and prayers are with you
Spencer i hope you find the peace you were searching for..Fly high Godspeed,,,
~Heidi Salazar & family.
Wendy and family, so sorry for your loss. I know nothing makes sense right now and what you are going thru is something few parents can relate to. Remember Spenser in good times, Know that he is in God’s arms and let that provide some comfort. I remember when we would walk on the trail and you would push him in his stroller. He was so little and cute. Seems like it was just yesterday. I know we haven’t seen each other in a while but know i am here if you need anything.
Kim and Aaron Stringer
May God bless you all at this time of sorrow…Heaven is ringing tonight and grandpa is holding Spenser while others wait in line…So many of our family is already there and our turn will come in His time>>>May this sad time be a little easier knowing where he is and that he has a new body with no pain of any kind…
I’m so sorry for your loss. I wish you God’s peace during this time.
I’ll never forget the time at Pita pit when you were on the phone and looked at me as the customer ordered and repeated back “oh you want extra mayo” wink wink 😅😅. Or when you thanked me so much for being the one who stopped and saved you when you were passed out in a field from a heatstroke. Rih.