Corwin V. Arndt

Corwin V. (Prez) Arndt, 74, of Oshkosh, Nebraska died Friday morning, December 31, 2010, at the Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff after an optimistic and courageous fight against cancer.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, January 5, 2011, at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Oshkosh with Pastors Sarah Cordray and Leon “Bud” Gillespie officiating. Masonic rites will be conducted at the church by the Oshkosh Lodge No. 286 A.F. & A.M. Interment will follow in the Oshkosh City Cemetery.

Visitation will be on Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Holechek Funeral Home in Oshkosh with the family present.

A memorial has been established in Corwin’s name.

Family and friends may sign the guest book and leave condolences online at www.holechekfuneralhomes.com.

Holechek Funeral Home & Cremations in Oshkosh is serving the Arndt family.

Corwin was born on September 16, 1936 in Lake City, Iowa, to Christian F. and Elva M. (Ralph) Arndt. At an early age the family moved to Bellevue, NE and he graduated from Bellevue High School in 1954. Corwin graduated from Peru State College with a degree in Education and later received a Masters of Education from the University of Nebraska Lincoln. He served as a science teacher in Bridgeport, NE and Superintendant in Pleasanton, NE before coming to Oshkosh as Principal in 1968. While at GCHS, Corwin founded and served as the first coach of the wrestling program. He was also Principal at Nelson, NE and Superintendant of Schools in Maxwell, NE before coming back to the place he loved, Oshkosh, in the summer of 1979. After coming back to Oshkosh he was employed at Farm & Ranch Fertilizer, was elected Garden County Superintendant of Schools, and in 1988 began working for the Chicago Northwestern/Union Pacific Railroad as a Conductor. Corwin retired from the Railroad in 1999. After retirement, Corwin worked for the Garden County Central Cemetery District until 2010.

Corwin was married to Susan (Fickes) Arndt on August 6, 1972 in Kearney, NE. They were the proud parents of Michelle (Arndt) Schmid and Matthew Arndt.

Corwin enjoyed his large garden and starting plants and trees from seed, hunting with guys at the Boar's Nest, fishing and hanging out at the trailer at Lake Mac, occasional gambling trips, and helping with local farm harvests. He was a pro at free-cell and solitaire, and an avid collector of model trains. As a licensed Ham radio operator (WA0LRQ) he was honored to be #77 in the nation for working all counties within the United States. Corwin was also very interested in genealogy and was the source of the Arndt family history. He had a joke for everyone and loved to laugh.

Corwin was a member of Oshkosh Lodge No. 286 A.F. & A.M. and served as Worshipful Master in 1983. He was also a member of the Scottish Rite and the Tehama Shrine in Hastings, NE. He was a member of the Oshkosh Chapter No. 264 OES and served as Worthy Patron in 1984. He was a member of the Sidney Elks Lodge and a past member of the VOA Board in Lewellen, NE. Corwin also served in the Army National Guard.

Survivors include his wife Susan Arndt of Oshkosh; daughter, Michelle and husband Dan Schmid of Oshkosh; son, Matthew Arndt of Sidney; grandchildren Samantha and Eli Schmid of Oshkosh; sister Elva (Pinky) and husband Gary Purchase of Omaha; brother Kelvin and wife Sharon Arndt of Chehalis, WA; brother-in-law, Wayne and wife Marlynn Fickes of Ogallala, NE; sons and daughter, Mike Klatt, Greg Klatt, and Denise Troester and their families; numerous nieces and nephews; and his faithful dog companion, Coco.

He was preceded in death by his parents.