J. T. Arnold

A Celebration of the life of J. T. Arnold, 63, of Scottsbluff, who died Saturday, November 25, 2006 at home with his family by his side, will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, November 30, 2006 at Grace Chapel in Scottsbluff with Pastors Rich Peterson and Dennis Gingrich officiating. Cremation was held at Sunset Memorial Park Crematory. J. T. was born December 25, 1942 at Scottsbluff, NE to Jack Thomas and Helen Louise (Wheat) Arnold. He was baptised and confirmed at St. Timothy's Episcopal Church in Gering. He graduated from Scottsbluff High School in 1961, attended Scottsbluff Junior College and then graduated from the Wm. B. Ogden School of Radio Broadcasters in Burbank, California. He returned to Scottsbluff and was employed by KEYR and KOLT radio stations. He was a member of the Nebraska Army National Guard and also worked for United Telephone Co. During summers he painted for Robinson Bros. and worked at Sherwin-Williams Co. which led to J.T. opening Décor Unlimited in downtown Scottsbluff. He began his 30 year real estate career with C.D. Wildy Co. in Scottsbluff and eventually worked with various real estate firms in both Scottsbluff and Gering. J.T. was very artistic and left his mark both inside and out of many homes and businesses throughout the community. In the early 1980s he and his wife founded Phoenix Phone Systems which they later sold to Dial-Net, Inc. He then moved to Arizona and California establishing regional sales offices for them. He returned to Scottsbluff in October 1991 and returned to full time real estate sales and development, most recently associated with Buyer’s Realty in Scottsbluff. J. T. was an active civic leader as a member of the Scottsbluff Jaycees, Toastmasters, Scotts Bluff County Board of Realtors and various other local organizations, holding numerous offices. His passion throughout life was cars, from soap box derby racing to Porsche Club of America, attending events all over the country at first restoring and showing the many Porsches he owned until he discovered the thrill of racing over waxing. He started riding motorcycles with his son, Jack, in 2003 and became a licensed Arizona Real Estate Broker in 2002 at the age of 60. He is survived by his wife, Marsha, whom he married June 26, 1982 in Las Vegas, NV; daughter and son-in-law Angie Arnold and Jack Kronebusch and their son Peter of Minneapolis, MN; sons Anthony J. Arnold of Denver, CO, Jack Thomas Arnold of Chandler, AZ and J. Bradley Arnold of Scottsbluff, NE; sister Delight Pugsley of Scottsbluff, NE; brothers and sisters-in-law Mick (Lynne) Lehl of Scottsbluff, NE and Rick (Starr) Lehl of Gering, NE; father-in-law: Paul Weitzel, Sr. of Briggsdale, CO; sisters-in-law and their husbands Maxine (Bob) VanDoren and Paulette Hall all of Greeley, CO; and Marilyn (Dave) Barber of Eaton, CO; brother-in-law Paul Weitzel, Jr. of Briggsdale, CO and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, stepfather John Lehl, mother-in-law Ruth Weitzel, and brother-in-law George Pugsley.