Arnold, Peter (1945-1970)

Mennonite Brethren Herald obituary: 1970 Jun 26 p. 26

Birth date; 1945 Dec 24

text of obituary:

PETER ARNOLD

Peter Arnold, 25, of Saskatoon, passed away on June 10, He was born in East Prussia on December 24, 1945, during a period of great upheaval, serious poverty and starvation during the Second World War. In 1954, he migrated to Waldheim, Saskatchewan with his parents. Here he began his elementary education which he completed in Saskatoon after his parents moved there in 1959.

At the age of 13 years Mr. Arnold accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour and was baptized, becoming a member of the First German Baptist Church in Saskatoon. Though he subsequently lost some of his earlier interest in spiritual matters, he underwent a spiritual revival during the last year of his life and showed a keen interest in the things of life which really matter most.

In 1968 Mr. Arnold married Joyce Beskowiney of Strugis, Sask. and God blessed their marriage with one daughter, Ramona. During the last three years, Mr. Arnold was employed by Domtar Construction Materials Limited of Saskatoon as a machine operator.

After a medical examination in May 1968, Mr. Arnold underwent surgery and it was established that he had developed a cancer, which eventually caused his death. After a short period of initial adjustment, Mr. Arnold never once complained about his fate although he suffered very severe pain. He claimed Christ, who has promised salvation to all those who trust in him as Saviour, and he was sure of entering heaven where he would be released from suffering and sin.

During his illness at home and, later in the hospital, he and his wife spent much time reading and discussing the Bible. When he found reading difficult he would ask Joyce to read to him. Mr. Arnold entered the hospital on May 24, 1970, where he lingered on fully conscious, for seventeen days. During his stay in hospital, his conversation with visitors and members of the family often centred around spiritual truths from the Bible. In fact, he proved to be a real blessing to the family ,in his testimony during this entire period of illness.

Mr. Arnold passed into the presence of the Lord on Wednesday, June 10, 1970, with his wife, Joyce and his mother at his bedside.

He leaves to mourn, his beloved wife, his daughter Ramona; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Arnold of Saskatoon; one brother, Manfred, Saskatoon; his parents-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. William Beskowiney of Strugis; his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Oldach of Saskatoon; and a host of relatives and friends. The family deeply mourns his loss, but they sorrow not as those who have no hope, for the Scripture states dearly that Jesus died and rose again that those who die, in the Lord will be raised up again to be forever with the Lord (1 Thessalonians 4:13, 14, 17) .

The memorial service was observed at the Nutana Mennonite Brethren Church, Saskatoon, with Jacob Kehler and G .J. Thiessen officiating.