Barbara A. Arndt, age 83 of Sioux City, IA, and formerly Cherokee, IA, passed away Saturday, July 6, 2024, at Holy Spirit Retirement Home in Sioux City, IA. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 9, 2024, at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Cherokee, IA. Father Dan Rupp will officiate. Burial will be at Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Cherokee, IA. Visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Monday night at the Greenwood-Schubert Funeral Home in Cherokee. There will be a 7:00 p.m. prayer service following visitation at the funeral home.. The Greenwood-Schubert Funeral Home in Cherokee, IA is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.greenwoodfuneral.com.
Barb was born January 15th, 1943 in Oto, IA to Tracy and Anna Handke; the 4th of 6 kids. She was very close to her Aunt Dord – they were more like sisters getting into mischief together. She was also very close to her baby brother Gene – even taking him on dates with her. She attended and graduated from the Oto school system being active in band, cheerleading and basketball.
She met Kenny Arndt in Oto while he was working in the area. They were married July 8th, 1961 and she enjoyed telling little girls that they were Barbie and Ken. They moved to Sac City where their two sons Jeff and Brad were born. They spent the remainder of their lives in Cherokee, IA. Barb worked at Love Tire Shop and Schoons Construction in office roles; and later part time at the HyVee Cheese Island. She loved talking to people and always had a smile for them.
Barb and Kenny were active following their sons’ activities in school and Barb cut out every newspaper article with her sons’ names in them and kept them in scrapbooks. They also enjoyed going to Canada every year with their family. Barb usually out-fished all of the guys and enjoyed playing cards and telling jokes.
Barb and Kenny spent their last few years in Holy Spirit nursing home in Sioux City. She enjoyed seeing her great-granddaughter Emma who was the light of her life. She attended Emma’s softball games and loved going to play bingo and weekly dinners with family.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Tracy and Anna, her husband Kenny, and siblings Marie Pinard, Buzz Handke and Butch Handke. She is survived by her siblings Ken (Jane) Handke and Gene Handke; her son Jeff and wife Darci, her son Brad and wife Pam; grandchildren Ashlee & James Jensen (Kalispell, MT), Matt Arndt (Sioux City IA) and Kat and Caleb Pickering (Lincoln, NE); and great grandchildren, Jordan, Isaiah, Emma, Brandon and Ryker.
