The first child of Clifford Arnold and Bertha Meseke, Don was born in Batchtown, Calhoun County, Illinois. He was baptized on 12 Jun 1932 at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Brussels.
After the Arnolds' Batchtown home burned in 1938, the family moved to Golden Eagle. Their next move was to Wood River, Madison County, Illinois in 1942, and later still, to another Madison County home in Roxana.
Don graduated from Roxana High School in 1950 after lettering in baseball for 3 seasons. He played third base for the Shells, but then became a catcher. With a letter of recommendation from the varsity coach, he was invited to attend a series of workouts for amateurs with the St. Louis Cardinals from 01 Jun 1950 through 12 Jun 1950 at Sportsman's Park.
Less than two years later, still interested in a baseball career, Don quit a job he had taken at Olin to attend the Jack Rossiter Baseball School in Cocoa, Brevard County, Florida. Upon completion of the training, he returned to Illinois and was lucky enough to be rehired by Olin.
After receiving several letters of interest based on references from Jack Rossiter, Don signed a contract with a Class D affiliate of the St. Louis Browns on 24 Mar 1952. The team was called the Tarboro Tars and was located in North Carolina. Don again quit his job for a try with the pros.
Held back by a lack of running speed, Don received his unconditional release in April. He played Legion ball until he was drafted into the army that December.
Don married Meredith Ann Bartels on 05 Oct 1952 at Zion Lutheran Church in Bethalto, Madison County, Illinois. He served in the United States Army from 1952 to 1954. After his service time, he was played on slow-pitch softball teams well into the 1960's.
Don and Meredith were the parents of 5 children. Residents of Rosewood Heights, Madison County, Illinois, he worked as a lineman for Ameritech for 36 years until he retired in 1993.
Don and Meredith were active members of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Wood River. Both of their sons grew up to become Lutheran ministers.
At the time of his death at Missouri Baptist Hospital, Don was survived by his wife, Meredith; 3 daughters and 3 sons-in-law; 2 sons and 2 daughters-in-law; and 12 grandchildren. He was also survived by 2 sisters and their husbands; 1 brother and his wife; 1 brother-in-law and his wife; 3 nieces; and 4 nephews.
In addition to his parents, Don was preceded in death by an infant brother, Clifford Arnold.
Visitation was held on 20 May 2003 at Paynic Home for Funerals in Rosewood Heights, Illinois. Funeral services were conducted at 11 a.m. the following morning at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Wood River. Don was buried on what would have been his 71st birthday.
The family requested that memorials, if desired, be made to the church or to Concordia Seminary.
Children: 3 daughters, 2 sons.
Father of:
(Living) Arnold Steiner
Rev. (Living) Arnold
(Living) Arnold Plummer
(Living) Arnold Gagen
Rev. Dr. (Living) Arnold
After the Arnolds' Batchtown home burned in 1938, the family moved to Golden Eagle. Their next move was to Wood River, Madison County, Illinois in 1942, and later still, to another Madison County home in Roxana.
Don graduated from Roxana High School in 1950 after lettering in baseball for 3 seasons. He played third base for the Shells, but then became a catcher. With a letter of recommendation from the varsity coach, he was invited to attend a series of workouts for amateurs with the St. Louis Cardinals from 01 Jun 1950 through 12 Jun 1950 at Sportsman's Park.
Less than two years later, still interested in a baseball career, Don quit a job he had taken at Olin to attend the Jack Rossiter Baseball School in Cocoa, Brevard County, Florida. Upon completion of the training, he returned to Illinois and was lucky enough to be rehired by Olin.
After receiving several letters of interest based on references from Jack Rossiter, Don signed a contract with a Class D affiliate of the St. Louis Browns on 24 Mar 1952. The team was called the Tarboro Tars and was located in North Carolina. Don again quit his job for a try with the pros.
Held back by a lack of running speed, Don received his unconditional release in April. He played Legion ball until he was drafted into the army that December.
Don married Meredith Ann Bartels on 05 Oct 1952 at Zion Lutheran Church in Bethalto, Madison County, Illinois. He served in the United States Army from 1952 to 1954. After his service time, he was played on slow-pitch softball teams well into the 1960's.
Don and Meredith were the parents of 5 children. Residents of Rosewood Heights, Madison County, Illinois, he worked as a lineman for Ameritech for 36 years until he retired in 1993.
Don and Meredith were active members of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Wood River. Both of their sons grew up to become Lutheran ministers.
At the time of his death at Missouri Baptist Hospital, Don was survived by his wife, Meredith; 3 daughters and 3 sons-in-law; 2 sons and 2 daughters-in-law; and 12 grandchildren. He was also survived by 2 sisters and their husbands; 1 brother and his wife; 1 brother-in-law and his wife; 3 nieces; and 4 nephews.
In addition to his parents, Don was preceded in death by an infant brother, Clifford Arnold.
Visitation was held on 20 May 2003 at Paynic Home for Funerals in Rosewood Heights, Illinois. Funeral services were conducted at 11 a.m. the following morning at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Wood River. Don was buried on what would have been his 71st birthday.
The family requested that memorials, if desired, be made to the church or to Concordia Seminary.
Children: 3 daughters, 2 sons.
Father of:
(Living) Arnold Steiner
Rev. (Living) Arnold
(Living) Arnold Plummer
(Living) Arnold Gagen
Rev. Dr. (Living) Arnold
The first child of Clifford Arnold and Bertha Meseke, Don was born in Batchtown, Calhoun County, Illinois. He was baptized on 12 Jun 1932 at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Brussels.
After the Arnolds' Batchtown home burned in 1938, the family moved to Golden Eagle. Their next move was to Wood River, Madison County, Illinois in 1942, and later still, to another Madison County home in Roxana.
Don graduated from Roxana High School in 1950 after lettering in baseball for 3 seasons. He played third base for the Shells, but then became a catcher. With a letter of recommendation from the varsity coach, he was invited to attend a series of workouts for amateurs with the St. Louis Cardinals from 01 Jun 1950 through 12 Jun 1950 at Sportsman's Park.
Less than two years later, still interested in a baseball career, Don quit a job he had taken at Olin to attend the Jack Rossiter Baseball School in Cocoa, Brevard County, Florida. Upon completion of the training, he returned to Illinois and was lucky enough to be rehired by Olin.
After receiving several letters of interest based on references from Jack Rossiter, Don signed a contract with a Class D affiliate of the St. Louis Browns on 24 Mar 1952. The team was called the Tarboro Tars and was located in North Carolina. Don again quit his job for a try with the pros.
Held back by a lack of running speed, Don received his unconditional release in April. He played Legion ball until he was drafted into the army that December.
Don married Meredith Ann Bartels on 05 Oct 1952 at Zion Lutheran Church in Bethalto, Madison County, Illinois. He served in the United States Army from 1952 to 1954. After his service time, he was played on slow-pitch softball teams well into the 1960's.
Don and Meredith were the parents of 5 children. Residents of Rosewood Heights, Madison County, Illinois, he worked as a lineman for Ameritech for 36 years until he retired in 1993.
Don and Meredith were active members of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Wood River. Both of their sons grew up to become Lutheran ministers.
At the time of his death at Missouri Baptist Hospital, Don was survived by his wife, Meredith; 3 daughters and 3 sons-in-law; 2 sons and 2 daughters-in-law; and 12 grandchildren. He was also survived by 2 sisters and their husbands; 1 brother and his wife; 1 brother-in-law and his wife; 3 nieces; and 4 nephews.
In addition to his parents, Don was preceded in death by an infant brother, Clifford Arnold.
Visitation was held on 20 May 2003 at Paynic Home for Funerals in Rosewood Heights, Illinois. Funeral services were conducted at 11 a.m. the following morning at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Wood River. Don was buried on what would have been his 71st birthday.
The family requested that memorials, if desired, be made to the church or to Concordia Seminary.
Children: 3 daughters, 2 sons.
Father of:
(Living) Arnold Steiner
Rev. (Living) Arnold
(Living) Arnold Plummer
(Living) Arnold Gagen
Rev. Dr. (Living) Arnold
After the Arnolds' Batchtown home burned in 1938, the family moved to Golden Eagle. Their next move was to Wood River, Madison County, Illinois in 1942, and later still, to another Madison County home in Roxana.
Don graduated from Roxana High School in 1950 after lettering in baseball for 3 seasons. He played third base for the Shells, but then became a catcher. With a letter of recommendation from the varsity coach, he was invited to attend a series of workouts for amateurs with the St. Louis Cardinals from 01 Jun 1950 through 12 Jun 1950 at Sportsman's Park.
Less than two years later, still interested in a baseball career, Don quit a job he had taken at Olin to attend the Jack Rossiter Baseball School in Cocoa, Brevard County, Florida. Upon completion of the training, he returned to Illinois and was lucky enough to be rehired by Olin.
After receiving several letters of interest based on references from Jack Rossiter, Don signed a contract with a Class D affiliate of the St. Louis Browns on 24 Mar 1952. The team was called the Tarboro Tars and was located in North Carolina. Don again quit his job for a try with the pros.
Held back by a lack of running speed, Don received his unconditional release in April. He played Legion ball until he was drafted into the army that December.
Don married Meredith Ann Bartels on 05 Oct 1952 at Zion Lutheran Church in Bethalto, Madison County, Illinois. He served in the United States Army from 1952 to 1954. After his service time, he was played on slow-pitch softball teams well into the 1960's.
Don and Meredith were the parents of 5 children. Residents of Rosewood Heights, Madison County, Illinois, he worked as a lineman for Ameritech for 36 years until he retired in 1993.
Don and Meredith were active members of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Wood River. Both of their sons grew up to become Lutheran ministers.
At the time of his death at Missouri Baptist Hospital, Don was survived by his wife, Meredith; 3 daughters and 3 sons-in-law; 2 sons and 2 daughters-in-law; and 12 grandchildren. He was also survived by 2 sisters and their husbands; 1 brother and his wife; 1 brother-in-law and his wife; 3 nieces; and 4 nephews.
In addition to his parents, Don was preceded in death by an infant brother, Clifford Arnold.
Visitation was held on 20 May 2003 at Paynic Home for Funerals in Rosewood Heights, Illinois. Funeral services were conducted at 11 a.m. the following morning at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Wood River. Don was buried on what would have been his 71st birthday.
The family requested that memorials, if desired, be made to the church or to Concordia Seminary.
Children: 3 daughters, 2 sons.
Father of:
(Living) Arnold Steiner
Rev. (Living) Arnold
(Living) Arnold Plummer
(Living) Arnold Gagen
Rev. Dr. (Living) Arnold
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