Arnold "Arnie" Morris

Arnold “Arnie” Morris, 60 of Adair, Iowa, died Friday, January 12, 2024, at his home.

The son of Francis Edmond and Myrtle Lorene (Bishop) Morris, Arnold Edward was born September 7, 1963, in Atlantic, Iowa.  He attended school in Atlantic and then got busy doing what he loved, working with his hands in both construction and farm work.  He was employed for many years with Henningsen Construction and also worked for Malone Feed Company, Elk Horn Construction and farmers in the area.  There was a period of time that he worked two full-time jobs, as well as a part-time job all at the same time.  He lived several places including, Klamath Falls, Oregon and Los Angeles, California, Adair being home for over ten years. 

Arnie was baptized at the First Assembly of God in Atlantic and helped build the Brayton Baptist Church while living in that neighborhood for a time.  Helping others was his greatest delight!  It didn’t matter what time of day or night, if he found out someone had a need, he was their guy!  From fixing cars, lifting something heavy, giving a ride home or helping put an addition on a home, he loved to lend a hand and rarely accepted any compensation.  It didn’t stop there; he was conscientious to use people’s first names, look them in the eye and give a compliment or encouraging word on a regular basis.  For years, he cared for his aging parents and was happy to return the favor after they put up with his shenanigans growing up.

Arnie loved to sing and play music and took his talents on the road to nursing homes in a 100-mile radius!  He taught himself to play many instruments including the guitar, violin and banjo, and like Jimmy Hendrix, he played a right-handed guitar, upside down with his left hand; same thing with a banjo! 

In spite of his kind heart, stories of his ornery youth could go on for hours!  One time, he bought a new speedometer for his bicycle and it said it could go 80 miles an hour, so he was determined to try it out.  Arnie talked someone into letting him hang onto their car and they got it up to 70 mph before the driver really realized that he’d better slow down or things may not end well.  He was especially fond of excitement and incidences involving fists, fireworks and fast cars were not unusual.  Arnie once rolled a car into a field and when he came to had to walk six or seven miles home; he helped the farmer rebuild the fence and they called it good!  With all his adventures, he felt that every day he was alive was a gift and meant for a purpose; he was on the Bay Bridge in San Francisco three hours before it collapsed, at age 38, he was able to escape a vehicle with an unknown leak in the gas line seconds before it exploded and many other experiences that by all rights, he should not have made it through. 

Arnie met a little girl in Bible School as a youngster and there were many twists and turns in life that eventually reunited him with Lisa Hansen who was by his side the last 16 years.

Arnold is survived by his fiancé, Lisa Hansen of Adair and her daughter, Tiffany and children, Riley Hansen, Alex Rice and Beau Rice of Atlantic; son, Dwayne; daughter, Savannah; his grandchildren; brothers, Albert L. Morris of Atlantic and his children, Linda, Melissa (Mike), Adam and Melanie and Allen R. (Rhonda) Morris of Oakland and their children, Christopher, Cyndi and Cody; sister-in-law, Katy Morris of Atlantic; several great-nieces and nephews; and other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; maternal grandparents, Earl Bishop and Jessie Bishop Goodwin; paternal grandparents, John and Effie Grace; half-sister, Melina; and aunts and uncles, Maude Blodgett, Florence Smith, Dollie Hesson, Virginia Aldrich, Villa Keith, James Bishop and John Henry Morris.

Per Arnie’s wishes the greatest memorial that could be given in his memory is to help each other out generously and joyously.

A Celebration of Life Visitation will be held from 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., Friday, January 26, 2024, at Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic.  The time together will conclude with a Prayer Service at 5 p.m. A burial, at Southlawn Memorial Gardens in Atlantic, and a picnic in Arnie’s memory will be held at a later date.

Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic, Iowa is caring for Arnold’s family and his arrangements.  Condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.