Arnold Wiggum

1920 - 2017

July 11, 1920-February 9, 2017 Beloved father, grandfather, father-in-law and friend, Arnold ("Arnie") Martin Wiggum, passed away on February 9, 2017 in Wenatchee, WA. He was born on July 11, 1920 in Chisholm, Minnesota to Mathias and Ingeborg (Vistnes) Wiggum, Norwegian immigrants who met aboard ship while emigrating to the U.S. The Wiggum family, including older brother, Perry, and sister, Margaret, moved to Everett, Washington in 1922 where Arnie grew up. After attending Everett public schools, Arnie graduated in 1938 from Everett High School. Joining the Army National Guard at age 16, he served five years in the Everett and Pullman units. He attended Washington State College where he met his sweetheart, Irene Nelson. It was "love at first laugh". He heard Irene laughing at a track meet, sought her out and fell in love. Arnie graduated in 1942 with a BA in English and history, and a minor in speech. He and Irene were married on August 1st. During his college career, Arnie was on the WSC debate team, tennis team, a member and president of Delta Sigma Zeta fraternity, college choir and glee club and was inducted into the Phi Delta Kappa education honorary. Arnie's future teaching career was put on hold, when two months after marrying Irene, he received his draft notice. After enlisting in the Army Air Corps, he became an instrument flying instructor ("LINK" trainer). He and Irene were stationed in Chico, CA, Moses Lake, WA, Ephrata, WA, and at Paine Field in Everett. Arnie always carried the sadness of losing so many of his original Army National Guard unit members at WSC during WWII. After WWII, he joined the Naval Air Reserve and spent his active duty at the Sandpoint Naval Base in Seattle, WA. During post- graduate studies at the University of Washington, he earned his Secondary Teaching Certificate and administrative credentials. He was a lifelong learner with seven summers of additional training in education and administration. Arnold taught at Bellevue High School in Bellevue, South Junior High and Jackson Elementary in Everett. He served as principal at Monroe, Hawthorne, Lowell and View Ridge Elementary schools in Everett. He felt that supporting dedicated teachers was a richly rewarding experience. As director of the Head Start Program in Everett in the 60's, Arnold recognized the value of the program's focus on language enrichment in early childhood education to help bridge the education gap for children entering school from low income households. In 2001, the City of Everett and the Hawthorne Elementary school community honored Arnie's commitment to children and families in northeast Everett by dedicating a new park for which he had strongly advocated for as, "Wiggums Hollow Park". Arnie and Irene's first and foremost passion was their family. They had five children, Matt, Jan, Christine, Paul and David, who all grew up in Everett in a home close to Mukilteo, built by Arnie, his father and Irene's two brothers, Bill and Wally. Arnie's other lifelong passions included fishing, hunting, storytelling, philosophy, community, frequent family reunions and world travel with his life partner, Irene. He was a long-time member of the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Everett where he sang in the choir, and in later years was welcomed by the First United Methodist Church community in Wenatchee where he and Irene often attended with his son, Dave Wiggum, and wife, Karen Wiggum. Arnold was preceded in death by his wife of 72 years, Irene (Nelson) Wiggum; his brother, Perry Wiggum; and sisters Margaret and Ruth Wiggum. He is survived by children, Matt Wiggum (Candice), Everett, Jan Morberg (Tom,) Gig Harbor, Christine Alexander (Larry), Orondo, Paul Wiggum (Peggy,) Issaquah, David Wiggum (Karen,) Wenatchee, ten grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren. The family would like to thank Dr. Cathy Ridgeway, Dr. Jeff Monda, their clinic staff, the Central Washington Hospitalists, CWH medical floor staff and the staff of the CWH Transitional Care Unit for their professional and compassionate care. RiverWest Retirement Community also provided loving and exceptional care to our beloved father throughout the final months of life. A memorial service will be held at the First United Methodist Church, 941 Washington Street, Wenatchee, WA at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 18, 2017. Arnie and Irene will be interred together during a family service at Cyprus Lawn Memorial Park in Everett, WA in May 2017. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Wenatchee First United Methodist Church, Normanna Lodge #3, Sons of Norway, in Everett, WA or any other charity of choice.