Mary Jo Arnold

A funeral service for Mary Arnold, age 101, of Des Moines and formerly of Lake Park, will be held at 11:30 AM on Saturday, September 6, 2025, at the Lake Park Methodist Church. Visitation for Mary will begin at 10:30 AM at the church. Following the burial at Silver Lake Cemetery, there will be lunch and fellowship at the church.

Mary Jean Arnold was born on the family farm five miles east of Sibley, Iowa on April 2, 1924. She was the seventh child born to Augusta (Grewe) and Henry Harjehausen. She was baptized in the Evangelical Church at Allendorf, Iowa on July 6, 1924, and joined the First Methodist Episcopal Church in Des Moines on April 24, 1938.

She received her education in a rural school until fourth grade, then attended Sibley School, West Jr. High and Roosevelt High School in Des Moines and graduated from Sibley High School in 1942. Upon graduation, Mary worked as secretary to the Superintendent of Sibley High School and as a teller at the First National Bank in Sibley.

Mary was united in marriage to Allen Arnold on May 11, 1944, in Sibley, Iowa. While living in Burlingame, California, Mary worked in the office at Pan American Airways and later as teller for the First Bank of Burlingame, CA until 1946 when they returned to Iowa. The couple lived in Lake Park from 1950-1980 where they raised their family. While living in Lake Park, Mary was active in the United Methodist Women’s Group and teaching Sunday School. She was also a boy scout leader. They owned Arnold Grain and Feed until 1980 when they moved to Des Moines.

Mary was a member of Aldersgate Methodist Church in Des Moines and former member of Federated Women’s Club. She was a volunteer guide at Terrace Hill for five years. She was a devoted mother to her children and grandchildren and enjoyed spending winters in Arizona.

Mary was a creative person. She spent many years painting watercolors, which grace her children’s and grandchildren’s homes, along with many others. She loved playing Scrabble, and we, as her family, will never see a Scrabble board again without thinking of her.

Mary passed away August 27, 2025, at Green Hills Retirement Community in Ames, Iowa at 101 years of age.

Left to cherish her memory are her children, Dr. David Arnold (Lana) of Dubuque, IA, Richard Arnold (Mary) of Colorado Springs, CO, Deb Osterhout (Dean) of Kelley, IA and Laura Bray (Richard) of Chanhassen, MN; twelve grandchildren, Chad Arnold (Heather), Carl Arnold (Katie), Wade Arnold (Shannon), Craig Arnold, Dr. Benjamin Arnold (Dr. Terrell Singleton), Jillian Mayles (Dr. Jonathan Mayles), Jason Arnold, Lynn Brownrigg (Trent), Leah Pudenz (Shane), Dana Osterhout, Austin Bray and Christian Bray (Genevieve); seventeen great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Augusta and Henry Harjehausen; husband, Allen Arnold; four brothers, Leroy, Henry, Donald and A.E. Harjehausen; two sisters, Lydia Petersen and Francis Griffith.