HAYWARD, Wis. — Arnold (Arnie) Stewart passed away at home on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2017 after a five-month battle with cancer.
He was born Jan. 27, 1934 in Batavia, Iowa, to Glenn and Fannie (Cash) Stewart. Arnie attended a one-room school in Deloniga, Iowa, through the eighth grade and then graduated from Ottumna High School (Iowa).
Immediately after graduating he enlisted in the Marine Corps. Basic training was held in San Diego, Calif. He was then shipped to the war in Korea as an Amtrak operator with the 2nd division Marine Corps. They fought from Pusan to the China border.
He was discharged as a Corporal in 1954 and returned to Iowa to assist his father in the family business of mink ranching. Many famous shades of mink such as Autumn Haze, Platinum, Violet and Pearl are attributed to their success with selective breeding.
He married Iris McCoy in 1952. They had three sons, Vern, Dennis and Scott. In 1972 the family moved to Rochelle. They eventually owned Hub City Dry Cleaners, several laundromats and Stewart Carpet Cleaning. Arnie and Iris divorced in 1983.
Arnie moved to Hayward, Wis., in 1984 as the new owner of Beechmoor Restaurant and Lounge on Whitefish Lake. He married Stephanie North that same year and they operated the restaurant together until 1989. Over the next few years he sold vehicles for Hayward Motors and then Gillis Motors. In 2004 he went to work as a parts delivery person for Carquest and spent the years until his diagnosis in 2016 driving the northern backroads of Sawyer County, a job he really enjoyed.
He loved reading, especially Lee Child books, fly-in fishing trips to Canada, driving in the mountains (any mountains) and caring for his yard. His last trip was on a North Land Honor Flight for veterans out of Duluth to Washington, D.C., and he never quit talking about the impact that trip made on him. He also loved the time he was able to spend with his granddaughter Arnica. She spent quite a bit of time with him and he adored her, even helping her get over her fear of loud noises by having her ride on the mower with him. Her hugs meant everything to him.
He is survived by his wife, Stephanie; his sons, Vern (Nena) Stewart, Dennis (Janet) Stewart, Scott (Krystal) Stewart and their mother, Iris Stewart; grandchildren, Michael (Doreen) Stewart, Shawn Stewart, Ryan (Ashley) Stewart, Kelly (Shawn) McKenzie, and Cori, Daniel, Addison and Bryson Stewart; and great-grandchildren, Trent, Easton and Audrey Stewart and Miles McKenzie. He is also survived by his step-children, Eric and Dustin North, who he raised from the ages of 7 and 12, and their daughters, Arnica and Lilianna. He is also survived by his brother, Virgil (Alice) Stewart and many nieces and nephews of Waterloo, Iowa.
His wonderful laugh and sense of humor will be missed by all who knew him. Services will be held at the Spider Lake Church on Saturday, Jan. 21 at 2 p.m. with Pastor Gary Hilgendorf officiating. Please consider making a donation in his name to the North Land Honor Flight, Inc.
Online condolences may be left at www.bratley-nelsonchapels.com.