Arthur Thomas Cardell

1942 - 2022

Arthur Thomas Cardell, along with his twin, Donald Edwin, was born on June 3,1942. They grew up in Fresno, CA, graduating from Fresno High in 1960 and then attending Fresno City College. They had paper routes starting at age 12 and their own lawn care business at 16. Art met his first and only girlfriend, Karen Niblack, in Choraleers , one of the many high school music groups to which they belonged at Fresno High. They were married in 1961 and the marriage thrived for 61 years.
Art loved working in the clothing business for 12 years but left it to be a banker so he could spend more time with his family, participating in their many activities . He was a banker for 39 years, spending most of it at Bank of the Sierra. He loved helping people and was proud of the businesses he helped start .
Art had a strong and evident faith. Raised in a Christian home he held his first position in church leadership at 19. A member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Art sang in the choir and served on their council as financial secretary, treasurer and president for over 40 years. Community was important to Art. He was a Porterville School Board member for 16 years, serving several terms as president. He belonged to River Island Country Club,Rotary, serving as president of the Porterville Club and the Springville Sierra Sunrise Club which he founded along with the Porterville Breakfast Club and the Tulare Breakfast Club. He was also active at the district level,serving as the district treasurer and assistant governor. Art was also a Jaycee and a Lion, both in Reedley and in Springville. Art also served on the Civic Development Committee, and spent 23 years on the Sierra District Hospital Foundation Board. He was president of Monache Band Parents twice and helped found the Monache Boosters Club. He and Karen were both active on the City recreation swim team and founded Porterville Aquatics, the USS swim team. His many awards include the Friend of Education award, Porterville Chamber of Commerce Man of the Year in 2003 and a special Rotary Making a Difference Award in 2018.
Art was a member of the Safari Club,an avid outdoorsman his entire life, beginning with striper fishing with his father and brother, continuing with bird hunting with his father in law and on to mammals with friends and son. He was proud of his mounts, particularly the elk he bagged in Saskatchewan and the snow goose in Minnesota.He also loved cutting and splitting wood in the mountains, and at the lake in Minnesota,often having several cords ready for the fireplace.
Art went to be with his Lord on June 12,2022, after a long battle with Parkinson's/Dementia. He is survived by his beloved family, wife, Karen, his children Julie Redlin and Carl Cardell,daughter in law Debbie Cardell, granddaughters Devon Redlin and Faith Cardell, sister Martha, twin brother Don brother and sister-in-law Mason and Zana Niblack,many nieces, nephews and cousins and an unknown number of friends.
Heartfelt thanks to Art's caregiver Teresa Piotter and SEVA Hospice for their professional and loving care
In lieu of flowers please make donations to Trinity Lutheran Church of Porterville or Porterville Breakfast Rotary Club.
Services will be held at Trinity Lutheran Porterville Ca. on July 8, 2022 at 11am