Arnold Robert March

Arnold Robert March of Hawarden, Iowa passed away on Friday, July 25, 2025, at Bickford Senior Living of Sioux City, Iowa. A memorial service will be held Friday, August 15, at 11:00 AM at Porter Funeral Home of Hawarden with Father Mauro Sanchez officiating. Inurnment will follow at Grace Hill Cemetery of Hawarden.

   Arnold was born on November 5, 1931, in Hawarden, Iowa to Vernon and Jennie (Herman) March. He met the love of his life, Ellen Brouillette, at a carnival in September 1953. The couple wed shortly after on December 1, 1953, and had four children; Donna, Donald, Daniel and Doris. Several years later Arnold and Ellen adopted their grandson, Andrew.

   From 1945 to May of 1955, Arnold worked in construction and at car washes. In 1955 he began work for the Milwaukee Railroad doing section work until 1980, at which point he began work with the city of Hawarden as a landfill operator. In his spare time, Arnold enjoyed working with wood, tinkering with motors, camping, fishing, hunting, biking and playing pool with his children and grandchildren. He also enjoyed volunteering with the Boy Scouts of America, listening to country western music, and planting and growing a large garden.

   Arnold was devout in his faith. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus. He and his wife were members of the Catholic Church and enjoyed planning games for the church's Spring carnival, including a kissing booth and Plinko. Both Arnold and Ellen were known in the neighborhood for hosting coffee and playing cards. Arnold was known to help his neighbors build or fix things. Both Arnold and Ellen played lots of games with their children and grandchildren, like Rummy, Dominos, Rummikub, Kings Corner, and Croquet. They also enjoyed traveling throughout the United States and collecting state magnets from their adventures.

   In retirement, Arnold and Ellen enjoyed many winters under the sunshine in Mission, Texas where they had a second home away from home. Arnold enjoyed playing billiards at the pool hall and going to the music jams.

   Surviving relatives include his four children, Donna Sturtevant of Hawarden, Donald (Kathy Wilke) March of Hudson, South Dakota, Daniel (Linda) March of Canton South Dakota, and Doris (Jeff) Keehn of Hawarden; 18 grandchildren, Joshua Kremer, Jody Keiser, Adam Kremer, Angela Atkins, Benjamin March, Andrew March, Lisa Eidenshink, Johnna Phillippe, Cynthia Lorenzetti, Celeste Overhulser, Wayne Overhulser, Sarah Lindsay, Jesse March, Aliya March, Kellyn March, Trisha Jarvis, Nikita Kleyer, and Mandi Harlow; sister, Lucille Gagnon of Kennewick, Washington; brother-in-law, Dick (Marion) Brouillette of Bartlett, Illinois; 3 sisters-in-law, Violet Husk of Westfield, Iowa, Elsie Voss of Clearlake, California, and Sally Peters of Cherokee, Iowa; and many great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.

   Arnold was preceded in death by his wife, Ellen March; parents, Vernon and Jennie March; parents-in-law, Delphis and Violet Brouillette; two brothers, Vyrlen and Wilber March; six brothers-in-law, David Brouillette, Peter Brouillette, Carl Husk, Vernon Vos, Ron Peters, Don Gagnon; two nephews, Darrell Gagnon and Michael Voss; niece, Debra Gagnon; and his grandson, Michael Keehn.