William Stanley "Bill" Arnold was born September 10, 1944 in Anthony, Kansas, one of four children born to Ernest Glendale Arnold and Hazel Beatrice (Myers) Arnold. As a child, Bill attended the Berlin School House and legend always had it that he was so smart that he skipped kindergarten. If you've never heard of the Berlin School House, just know that one had to walk uphill both ways just to get there. The stories of his many pranks are endless. He was well known for his ornery grin that never seemed to fade with age.

After graduating from Berlin, he then graduated from Bluff City High School class of 1962 where he started dating the love of his life, Janet Sue Meyer.  After high school, Bill moved to Arkansas City and attended Cowley College.

On June 27, 1964, Bill was united in marriage with Janet Sue Meyer at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Anthony. They started their married life in Arkansas City, Kansas where they were blessed with Brian (1966) and Brenda (1967). Bill worked for Conoco during his days in Arkansas City. He made many friends there, but a couple of his dearest and life-long friends were Charlie "Ralph" and Kaye Turner.

Later, they moved to the Salt Plains by Wakita in the Sand Hills where they lived from 1971 to 1974. While they were there, they were blessed with another child, Laurie.  In 1974, they made their homestead in Bluff City after the passing of his father, Swede Arnold, to take care of the family farm. He worked many years farming and ranching with the help of his younger brother, Johnny.

Bill sold the homestead and on March 23 ^rd , 2008 they moved to town in Anthony, Kansas.

Bill spent his life as a farmer and rancher. Many times, you'd find him out in the field waiting on Janet Sue to deliver food to the field. Following a long hard day of harvest, you'd find him driving a grandkid to the Dairy Queen to pick up some ice cream before heading in for the day.  He was never one to sit around and never did fully retire from ranching and farming until he became ill over the last year. However, the illness didn't stop him from driving around and checking on things. He had too much grit for that. He was a devout member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, of the St. Joan of Arc Parish. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus.

Bill was a loving husband, dad, and grandpa. He was a true family man. He learned to be selfless at a young age and only continued to put others needs before his. If you ever needed anything, he would be there. He loved to fish, golf, bird hunt, spend time at the lake on the pontoon, and most of all he loved spending time with his family. He also loved a good steak and dessert. He was known by his grandkids as the best malt-maker this side of the Mississippi. He also had the best tricks and pranks. Most would say that his grandkids inherited their orneriness from him, but he would say that they definitely inherited their smarts and good looks from him. If his grandkids had an event, you could always find him in the stands with a grin on his face. In the rare event that he missed an event, he would be calling to ask how it went as soon as it was over.  It was always evident that he was very proud of his children and grandkids. Before dawn, he enjoyed drinking a cup of coffee with his friends solving the world's problems. You could also find him on a dirt road talking with an old friend many evenings.  After church, you could find Bill and Janet grabbing a bite to eat at a local restaurant catching up with family and friends. He didn't know a stranger and never had an enemy. To know him, was to love him.

On January 4, 2022, Bill passed away at home surrounded by his family at the age of 77 years after a hard-fought battle with cancer. He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Mary Jo Merrell.

Bill will be forever missed by his wife, Janet Sue Arnold; children: Laurie Mathes and husband, Lance, Brenda Page and husband, Rick, and Brian Arnold and wife, Cappy; brother, Johnny Arnold; sister, Vickie Shellhammer and husband, Jim; brother-in-law, Ronnie Meyer; brother-in-law, Chuck Meyer; 9 grandchildren: Karlie (Adam) Parker, Taylor (Michael) Schrant, Ashlan (Clay) Wilcox, Maggie Mathes, Gabrielle Page, James Page, Nathanael Page, Dalton (Brittney) Arnold, and Grant Arnold; 5 great-grandchildren Kamdynn and Adalie Parker, Ramey Schrant, and Jrue and Jada Wilcox; several nieces and nephews; and a host of other relatives and many friends.

Recitation of Rosary will be held 5:30 p.m. Sunday, January 9, 2022, and Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Monday, January 10, 2022, both at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Anthony. Inurnment will follow in Spring Grove Cemetery.

Friends may sign Bill's register book from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Friday, and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday at Prairie Rose in Anthony.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Joan of Arc or to Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice and may be sent in care of Prairie Rose Funeral Home, 602 E. Main St., Anthony, KS 67003.