Orville "Bud" Arnold

1933 - 2021

Arnold, Orville Edward "Bud"

MINOCQUA - Orville Edward "Bud" Arnold died peacefully at the age of 87 surrounded by his family on Feb. 2, 2021, in Minocqua, Wis. Bud was born on Sept. 30, 1933, in Sparta, Wis. At age 1 his family moved to Madison, where Bud would grow up with his sister, Mary, and create the first few phases of his life as a dedicated Madisonian, with great loyalty to his adopted hometown.

At an early age Bud knew that his formal name, Orville, would be short lived. This is revealed in his kindergarten graduation certificate, which proclaimed "Buddy" would be moving on to first through eighth grade at Blessed Sacrament School. From there he transitioned to Edgewood High School a few blocks away from the family home on Norwood Place in the famous "triangle" neighborhood.

Edgewood High School was a big focus of Bud's life, as he met lifelong friends there and returned years later to send his own four children through Edgewood and was instrumental in forming the now highly successful hockey program there in 1974.

Bud attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, graduating in 1955 with a B.S. in civil engineering. Engineering became a big part of Bud's life moving forward, as he was initially employed by Flad & Associates and then formed Arnold & O'Sheridan Consulting Engineers where, as President, he was responsible for structural safety of buildings and bridges throughout the state. Key projects included structural analysis of the Camp Randall upper deck, Pettit Ice Arena, The Wisconsin Center and multiple University of Wisconsin buildings, as well as the Monona Terrace Convention Center. Bud's influence and imprints are all over the Madison landscape, including the National award-winning design of the Tenney Park Pedestrian Bridge and the rebirth of the Frank Lloyd Wright inspired Monona Terrace design, by helping to build excitement for and create the multi-governmental financing and governance concept to ensure the center's success.

Bud received numerous professional honors throughout his career, including Professional Engineer of the Year in Private Practice from the Wisconsin Society of Professional Engineers, Distinguished Service Citation from UW Madison College of Engineering and Outstanding Civil Engineer Award from the American Society of Civil Engineers.

Bud was also active with civic interests, as he felt strongly about giving back to his community. He was active during the formation of Hospice-Care (now Agrace) and supported the Madison Opportunity Center, Inc., for years. Bud served on the Madison Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors as well as the board of trustees for the Madison Art Center. Other community service efforts throughout his career included the Boy Scouts of America Adult Leadership Committee, Middleton Public Works Committee, President of the Mendota/Monona Lake Properties Owners Association and the Edgewood High School Athletic Board. He was also a Director of Downtown Madison, Inc., a member of the UW-Madison College of Engineering Committee for Minority Students and served on the UW-Platteville Industrial Advisory Board as well as the Shorewood Hills Board of Public Works.

Aan absolute top priority throughout his life was being the father of four. At one point, Bud found himself as a start-up business owner, a single parent of four and a heavily committed community and civic leader. All of this might have seemed prohibitively exhausting to most, but to Bud it was just who he was and what he did, his absolute essence. In his free time, Bud loved to play recreational softball and tennis with his longtime friends; enjoyed boating, swimming and waterskiing on the Madison lakes and surrounding bodies of water with his family; as well as following his beloved Badgers in track, hockey, basketball and football.

In 1986, Bud married the love of his life, Judi Schmidt Arnold, and they enjoyed the second phase of Bud's life together in Manitowish Waters on the chain of lakes from 1993 until his recent death. Judi and Bud together formed a collective loving crew of a combined family self-labeled affectionately as the "Schmarnolds." The Schmarnold crew will forever be branded with the mark of Judi's and Bud's love for each other and their families.

Bud was preceded in death by his parents, Donald Edward and Lenice Reilly Arnold; daughter, Cheri Schmidt Mueller; and brother-in-law, Joe Kalivoda.

He is survived by his loving wife, Judi; his children, Don and Tamara Arnold, Dave and Mary Beth Arnold, Beth Arnold, Sandy Arnold, Keven and Cary Schmidt, Wendy and William Magee and Jack and Shantel Schmidt; his grandchildren, Alexandra and Will Norton, Nick Arnold, Nathan and Anna Kate Arnold, Bobby Arnold, Amanda and Justin Griswold, Jason Arnold, Chris Schmidt, Jerry and Jessica Schmidt, Sarah Alswager, Amber and Philip Williams, Lindsay Schmidt, Max and Rebecca Schmidt; and great-grandchildren, Hugo Norton, Taylor Eubank, Gavin, Charlotte and Isaiah Williams, Jahzanna Taylor and Paisley, Phoebe and Dean Schmidt. He is also survived by son-in-law, Terry Mueller; and his only sister, Mary Kalivoda.

The family wishes to thank the dedicated and loving physicians and outstanding nursing staff at Marshfield Clinic Hospital in Minocqua.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made in Bud's name to Edgewood High School, www.Edgewoodhs.com, or to Music in the Park, P.O. Box 165, Manitowish Waters, WI 54545 - a Sunday summer event that Bud dearly loved and enjoyed.

The family is planning a virtual wake at 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 12. Please join via this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2360214750?pwd=bGgzZ0xobTlMdXZtR1doNFRJYUN0UT09

Bolger Cremation & Funeral Services

www.bolgerfuneral.com