Kenneth L Arnold

Kenneth L. Arnold, 91, was born in Big Springs, Nebraska, on May 22, 1934, to Julius and Mable (Peterson) Arnold. He passed away peacefully Thursday morning, June 5, 2025, at Fairacres Manor in Greeley, Colorado.

Kenneth loved his hometown of Big Springs, Nebraska, where he grew up and graduated from Big Springs High School (1952).

He was drafted into the Army and served from 1957-1958. He trained at Ft. Ord, California, and he was stationed at the Presidio Military Base (San Francisco) as a Corporal - 6th Army Headquarters (Purchasing & Contracting Office).

He married Shirley J. (Barb) Angeli on January 15th, 1963. They were lifelong companions. They were blessed with three boys (Brent, Kevin, & Aaron). He was very active in all their lives.

Ken was a very hard worker, holding various jobs over a 60-year career: Kepler gas station, Chub Shaw Farms (drove cattle truck to Omaha and brought back corn), Hartwell construction, Dorn's lumber, spent 20 years at Thrasher / Stone Motors (finished as service manager), Great Western Sugar Company, Klint Schlake player pianos, and finally retired after managing Lakemont Place Apartments (Loveland).

He belonged to the Big Springs Ramrods and the Platte Valley Custom Club. He was an original member of the NHRA and was close to the founder (Wally Parks). He raced a 1955 Chevy as well as various other cars. He worked on Darrel Zimmerman's NHRA Division V team as the original Tech Director from 1963 to 1976. His first National meet was in 1959 as part of Darrell's pit crew, and Ken worked a national meet for 40 years. He was honored as one of the four pioneers for Division V along with Darrell & Polly Zimmerman and Beverly Johnson in May 2001 in Topeka, Kansas. He was inducted into the NHRA High & Mighty Hall of Fame in January 2006 in Kansas City, Missouri. His favorite tracks were the Julesburg dragstrip and Bandimere Speedway.

He loved watching his grandkid's ball games and events, and he rarely missed an opportunity to spend time with family. He loved his siblings and cousins, and he would organize and never miss a family reunion or just stop by for a "quick" visit. He was the hub of the Arnold family and loved to tell jokes and stories and giggle with his nephews and nieces.

Ken was an avid Nebraska Husker fan and enjoyed going to ball games for the Rockies, Nuggets, and Broncos. He had a passion for NASCAR and basically any kind of racing. His closest friends were Don Phelan, Vaughn Hartwell, Butch Walline, and many more that all called him by "Foo". He was very social and just loved life!!

Ken is survived by Barb; Brent & Holly [Graedy (Katie), Elise (Trent), Elijah, Sneha, Joy, Tao Tao, Mariya, Aviya, and Ezekiel]; Kevin & Kristen [Lauryn, Logan, and Kamryn]; Aaron; and great Grandchild, Junia (Graedy & Katie).

He was preceded in death by his parents (Julius and Mable), four sisters (LaVonne Arnold, Phyllis Marsden, Carolyn Peralta, and Pauline Perozzi), and three brothers (Dewayne, Richard, and Ronald).

A memorial will be celebrated in July at the Prairie Hills Funeral Home in Julesburg, and a burial immediately followed at the Big Springs Cemetery.