Arthur P. "Duke" Fiehl

Arthur P. (Duke) Fiehl, 89, of Fort Smith, died July 10, 2013 in Fayetteville, AR. Duke was born September 4, 1923 jn Chicago, Illinois to Arthur Peter and Clara Goldner Fiehl. He grew up in south Chicago. He served in the Army in World War II. He was stationed in Hawaii and served in Ordinance repair. He also often spoke about his assignment to a hospital train returning wounded veterans to hospitals throughout the U.S. After the war he attended Eureka College in Eureka, Illinois. While at Eureka he was introduced to this roommate’s sister, Betty Jane who became the love of his life. In 1951 Duke and Jane were married and enjoyed sixty years together until her death in 2011. Duke joined Moore Business Forms, Inc in 1953. His career with Moore spanned thirty-five years . He received numerous sales achievement awards while both a Sales Representative and District Manager for Moore. He enjoyed many activities in his lifetime, he often spoke of his prewar years at the lake cabin in southern Michigan, he enjoyed the outdoors whether camping , fishing or sailing. He enjoyed woodworking either in his workshop, building his own sailboat or remodeling the house. Most of all, he enjoyed gardening. Each year when the new seed catalogs came out it was like Christmas at the Fiehl house. Duke enjoyed sports of all kinds but will always be remembered as a true Chicago Cubs fan. In 1964 Duke and Jane and several other couples made the decision to start a new church in Fort Smith. Central Christian Church was the result. Duke served the church in many leadership capacities during the next forty plus years. Central will always serve as a reminder of his love of his Lord. He is survived by his daughter, Jo Ann Gunter of Fort Smith , his son and daughter in law, Jon and Lagusta Fiehl of Fort Smith. His four grandchildren, Dorthy Crafford of Fayetteville, Erica Crafford of Springdale, Tricia Decker and her husband Mathew of Fort Benning, Ga. and Todd Fiehl and his wife Chrystal of Oak Harbor, Wa. Nine great grandchildren also survive. He was preceded in death by his wife Jane. He is also survived by three special people in his life, his caregivers for the past few years, Betty Bell, Linda Hadley and Sharla Casey. Ladies, words cannot express the way the family feels about you. Funeral service will be Friday, July 12, 2013 at 11:30 PM in the Central Christian Church with burial to follow in the U.S. National Cemetery all under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home. The family will greet friends at Edwards Funeral Home on Thursday evening from 5-7 PM. Memorials may be made to Central Christian Church 400 North Waldron Road Fort Smith, AR 72903 To sign an online guestbook visit www.edwardsfuneralhome.com