Jocelyn "Jossy" K. Arnold

Jocelyn "Jossy" Khris (Kuehl) Arnold was known for her easy smile. It could be drawn out with the simplest things such as sitting on the porch with her daughter to take in a late-night thunderstorm, one of countless “I love you” and “goodnight” text messages from her long-time husband or the sight of the small stuffed penguin wedged on top of her dashboard to match the one in her son’s car.

Even in the midst of an inflammatory breast cancer diagnosis and months of grueling treatments, Jocelyn’s infections smile and warmth were unwavering. That’s what will be remembered most after she passed away Sunday evening at her home in West Des Moines.

Jocelyn was born May 27, 1966 in Northwest Hospital in Des Moines. After graduating from Valley High School in 1984, she married her husband, Bruce Arnold, on October 24, 1987 and had her children Matthew and Madison, who she affectionately called M&M. Jocelyn worked much of her career in payroll before managing a business, Ladder 13, that she owned with her husband.

While every person who knew her will have their own unique memories, her family was reminded of a few of their favorites.

With her children still quite young, Jocelyn took it upon herself to help with a local chapter of the American Heart Association, working by day and walking the neighborhoods delivering flyers and collecting donations each night to ensure money got to those who needed it most. That was Jocelyn.

Jocelyn then moved on to volunteering as ‘cookie mom’ with Madison’s Girl Scout troop, #1244. While she might not have known the sheer volume of work at the time, she was never overwhelmed by the mountains of cookie boxes taking over her living room (even with a growing son who consistently had cookies on the mind). That was Jocelyn.

Through the childish squabbles she came home to daily, or the husband who was constantly injuring himself at work or just goofing off, she remained patient and loving. That was Jocelyn.

Jocelyn was preceded in death by her grandparents Claire and Mary (Sackett) Johnston and Wayne and Theresa (Dickenmann) Kuehl. She is survived by her husband Bruce, children Matthew and Madison, mother Iona (Rich) Van Vleet, father James (Diane) Kuehl, sisters Lori (Al) Jerome, Tracy Van Vleet, Ashley (Dan) Kuehl, brothers Chad (Dani) Noyes and Lance (Diana) Van Vleet and countless other friends and family members.

The community is invited to celebrate her life and share stories like these (maybe even try one of her beloved Fireball shots) with her family from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, September 9, 2017 at Decades Event Center, 1208 Grand Ave. in West Des Moines.