Michael Arnold

Michael Arnold
Bluff Springs - Michael Arnold was not a man who wasted time. So, in an effort to honor his memory, we (his children) would like to present these facts and observations about a man who lived more life in his 63 years than most live in 103.
*He was born October 22, 1960, in Lucerne Switzerland. Michael's life began there on a farm called "Farm on the Hill".
*Michael and his 5 brothers, Jakob Arnold (Lisbeth) of Vernon, BC, Canada, Tony Arnold (Ursula) of Ballwil, Switzerland, Andreas Arnold (Monica) of Hochdorf, Switzerland, Werner Arnold (Christine) of Dovedale, New Zealand, and Peter Arnold (Suzanne) of Edgar, WI, would share a bike to get to school and back. Biking was faster! But getting home early meant you had to help with chores longer.
*He was an officer in the Swiss Army.
*He came to the USA in 1980, with an exchange program to learn about agriculture. He lived with his host parents, John and Ruthie Werries, and their family in Chapin, IL.
*He could nap anywhere. And he did: on concrete, in parking lots, on picnic tables, on steps, and on floors; mostly floors.
*He traveled the US and Mexico in a VW Vanagon.
*Michael met his wife RuthAnne Thompson in Jacksonville IL, and they moved to Switzerland, had 4 kids before moving to Bluff Springs, starting a free-range pig farm, and having 4 more kids.
*Dad was also a beloved brother to Mom's siblings, Rosalee, Matt, Hero, Tony and Jimmy. If he thought you were the right person for a job, then you were going to do the job, with no instructions or oversight. Just "go feed pens 2-16, fix the broken fence and mark any pigs that look sick".
*He was recklessly positive, and because of that, he inspired positive thinking in many of those who spent time with him.
*Mike had a knack for making everyone feel essential. Farming was a team effort, and we were an important part of the team. We braved many Midwest thunderstorms to wean pigs because we couldn't imagine how those adults would get it done without us.
*If you worked for him and messed up, he would say, "It's ok! If you were perfect, I'd have to pay you $15 per hour."
*Generosity was part of his personality. He would loan anyone any tool or item that he owned. With no strings attached. Borrow his tractor and bring it back on empty, he would not even blink.
*He (almost) never got mad. Lose a tool? Forget to do something he asked you to do? Get in an accident? He always cared more about the people involved than the damage done.
*He was very passionate about grazing and healthy farming. The holy trinity of
agriculture for him was Greg Judy, Bud Williams and Joel Salitan.
*He might have been afraid of failure, but he was more afraid of not trying and not learning. His brain never took a day off. He was always ready to try a new project and research and learn.
*His faith was in people, and God made people.
*Mike and RuthAnne completely resurrected the giant house at the Hillfarm. From jacking it up to put in new beams, to adding on a sunroom with a basement garage, he was always there to get the big ideas put into action (The detail work was more Mom's territory).
*If you had an idea, and were ready to build something, you called Dad. He would come over with the right tools (which he always had) and supplies, praise your idea, and then somehow improve it by 100% and help you build it.
*Michael's 8 Kids, Olivia (Peter) Gabel of Flossmoor, IL, Steven (Jessica) Arnold of Petersburg, IL, Nils (Megan) Arnold of Firth, ID, Heidi Arnold of Bluff Springs, Nina Arnold of Jacksonville, Nolan (Autumn) Arnold of Etna, WY, Leo Arnold of Wallace, NE, and Juliet Arnold of Bluff Springs, really miss him. We miss calling him when we have a question, we miss listening to him talk about a topic he was passionate about, we miss his support for our creative and business endeavors.
*He considered anything with wheels to be a work truck. No minivan or station wagon was safe (RIP Pepto).
*He knew the quality and location of every coffee shop in the Midwest and on Hwy 36 between Bluff Springs and Denver.
*He was an excellent Swiss tour guide. Hopefully his 9 grandkids; Mae, Luke, Virginia, Celeste, Sepp, Hawthorne, Clara, Clancy and Gemma Rose will have a chance to visit some of the tiny cable cars and mountaintop farm restaurants that he loved to show off when he traveled there with family.
*He could somehow turn a failed idea or project into a positive step towards a goal or larger plan that only he saw.
*He always had time for coffee and philosophy.
*In the years between raising kids and being diagnosed with cancer, Mike and RuthAnne took ballroom dancing classes. They found and created many opportunities to showcase their skills.
*He had possibly the best and most distinguishable snow skiing form of anyone on a mountain. He also passed that passion on to his children, grandchildren and any other wild souls who joined the family for the annual ski trip.
*Dad found a passion in working with the greatest guys on the planet, repairing and washing barns. But we know the truth, he really cherished the lunches they packed and shared with him on site.
*He always made bullet point lists.
*He died of complications from Glioblastoma at the Hillfarm on May 12.
A Memorial Celebration will be held Friday May 31, 2024, from 3-7p.m. at Reichert's Barn, 7110 S. Bluff Springs Rd, Bluff Springs IL 62622. To continue his spirit of generosity, please consider donating to Our Saviour Grade School, Dixie Thompson Scholarship Fund, contact office@ospchurch.com, or to a charity of your choice. The Buchanan & Cody Funeral Home in Jacksonville is in charge of the arrangements. Condolences may be left at buchanancody.com.