Arden Nitz

Arden A. Nitz, 83, of Beatrice, passed away on July 17, 2020. He was born on December 12, 1936, at the family farm near Leigh, Nebraska, to Jacob and Bertha (Kroeger) Nitz. He attended Langley School and graduated from Clarkson High School in 1954. He participated in FFA, music, basketball, and was a basketball statistician. He attended the University of Nebraska, Lincoln School of Commerce, and was enlisted in the Naval Reserve.

He married his beloved wife, Barbara (Kempkes) Nitz on January 11, 1958, in Lincoln. He first worked for American Stores Company and then Firestone Tire & Rubber Company. Arden and Barb lived in Lincoln, Omaha, and Sioux City, Iowa, prior to making Beatrice their home in 1966. In 1969, he and his wife became independent business owners opening Nitz Dairy Queen followed by General Adjustment Bureau Collection Agency and Nitz Decorating Den. In 1983, he started a new career path as an independent sales representative with Industrial Chemical, Rochester Midland and eventually affiliated with Schwarz Paper Company. For 37 years, he enjoyed serving his customers, considering each of them a friend. Arden was still working the day he passed away with no plans of retiring.

Over the years, Arden served on the Nebraska Dairy Queen Association Board of Directors as the President and board member; the St. Joseph School Board of Directors as the Treasurer and board member; the Beatrice YMCA Board of Directors as the President, Vice President, Treasurer and board member; the Beatrice Town Baseball Team Board of Directors; The Beatrice Chamber of Commerce as Treasurer and board member; the Director of the Nebraska Girls District Softball Tournament; and was a member of the Sertoma Club. As owners of Nitz Dairy Queen, they sponsored junior, senior, and women’s softball teams, a women’s bowling team, and boys junior golf team. Arden coached the junior high division and senior high division softball teams for nine years. He also coached the third through ninth grade YMCA boys’ and girls’ basketball teams for six years producing a Boys State Championship team in 1973.

Arden loved pitching softball, watching the sporting events of his children and grandchildren, and Husker sports. He enjoyed watching Hee Haw, the Lawrence Welk Show, Jimmy Dean, the RFD-TV channel, and most recently Quarantine Tonight on News Channel Nebraska. He grew up listening and dancing to “good” music, working, and traveling.

Above all, he was a devoted husband, grandfather, and great-grandfather. Arden spent his life teaching his children the values of hard work, loyalty, dedication, and reliability. He embodied these values throughout his life both professionally and personally, as many will recall. Arden seldom said ever goodbye. Today, we say to you as you have said to others throughout the years, “Have a good day”.

Arden is survived by his children, daughter Deb Charf of Council Bluffs, Iowa; daughter Sandy Jenkins of Newark, Delaware; son Dave Nitz and wife Deb of West Des Moines, Iowa; daughter Denise Barnhill of Lincoln; son Doug Nitz and wife Julie of Belleville, Illinois; grandchildren Jeremy Barnhill and wife Brittany; Channon Nitz; Zach Nitz and wife Katie; Alex Nitz; Brandon Nitz and wife Brianna; Lindsey Montgomery and wife Julia, Sasha Montgomery; Jake Nitz, Kyle Nitz; Blake Nitz, Brittney Nitz; great grandchildren Sophia Melendez; Caden Cumberbach; and Amelya Montgomery; brother-in laws Richard Kempkes; Harold Kempkes and special friend Sue Adams; Duane Kempkes and wife Janet; and several nieces and nephews. Arden was preceded in death his beloved wife, Barbara Ann (Kempkes) Nitz; his parents; sisters Viola Loseke; Evelyn Henry; Verneta Rahtz; Darlene (Dee) Sorensen; brothers Vernon Nitz; Eldon "Bud" Nitz; sister-in-law Shirley Kempkes; brother-in-laws Donald Rahtz and Lin Sorensen; and nieces and nephews.

To celebrate his life, Pastor Jack Magness will conduct a Memorial Service at 11:00 AM on July 31, 2020, at Christ Community Church in Beatrice with Interment to follow at Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home and Cemetery, Lincoln, NE. Visitation following CDC guidelines, mask required, will be held one hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, Memorials are suggested to the Arden and Barbara Nitz Softball Scholarship Fund established through the Beatrice Educational Foundation, 320 N. 5th Street, Beatrice, NE 68310. Condolences can be sent to 329 NW 23rd Street, Lincoln, NE 68528. Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home and Cemetery, Lincoln, in charge of arrangements.

Due to COVID-19, the visitation and memorial service are following the CDC guidelines, enforcing a mask requirement, social distancing, and temperature screenings. A luncheon will not be provided.