Arnold Odell
August 25, 1935-Sept 7, 2021

A Family Memorial Service will be held at St Luke’s Anglican Church. Due to COVID restrictions A Memorial Service will be available Thursday October 7, 2021 from St Luke’s Anglican Church at 1:00 p.m. for both Arnold and his wife Glenna via live stream on Stevens Funeral Homes Facebook page.

With sadness and love we share the news that our father, Arnold, has passed away after living a full and happy life. He passed peacefully with his daughters by his side. Although the family is left with another little hole in their hearts, he is back where he wanted to be these last couple of months, with the love of his life and forever partner. Our hearts find peace in knowing they are back together. Arnold was born in Hargrave, Manitoba, The second youngest of 10 children. After moving to Thunder Bay and some Sioux lookout, they settled in Dryden. It was here that Arnold made so many lifelong friends. Little did he know that when a sweet little 15 year old girl from Minnitaki asked him to Sadie Hawkins Dance one November, He had met his forever girl. Partners for life they married, settling in Dryden and raising two daughters here. Arnold initially worked for Harley’s Supermarket doing deliveries and then as a butcher. Next he worked for B and M delivery on the garbage truck, loving the early morning start, “the best part of the day”, which got him off nice and early to get ready for camping. Arnold moved on to KB Body shop doing ziebart rustproofing and then was a shop foreman until they closed their doors. Arnold’s last job before health issues forced him to retire was as a fuel technician for the fire crews with the MNR. He relished this opportunity and loved flying to remote sites, seeing new areas and finding such joy in the work. He also loved meeting and taking under his wing, his youngest best friend; Scott Colgrove Arnold was blessed to have made lifelong friendships at all of his jobs as well as in all facets of life. Coffee groups can be a great place to solve the world’s problems. His life was blessed and he loved his family and friends with his whole heart. His love and kindness made him especially popular with the older aunties. Arnold loved gambling and camping and was known to cause a ruckus when he created Christmas in July at Blue Lake, complete with a lit Christmas tree. After years of camping and fishing and camping vacations with friends, he and Glenna bought their property on Wabigoon Lake. They built a cabin with used lumber and bent nails and “Arnie’s little piece of Heaven” became a spot filled with so much laughter and fun for friends and family. The summers flew by and everyone was welcome to his “moon deck”. Winter was no less social as Arnold loved snow machining as well as many years of curling and bonspieling. Arnold fostered friendships within St. Luke’s Anglican Church and was part of their men’s group. He would dive in to anything that needed doing, for St. Luke’s and he also worked tirelessly on the caretaking of the Minnitaki church which was so dear to Glenna’s heart. Arnold also spent time doing meals on wheels with Glenna. With pride he also was a member of the Dryden Lions Club for 62 years joining January 1st 1959, and working on countless projects with them. Arnold was awarded the Melvin Jones Fellow Award for dedicated Humanitarian Services. When each of his four grandsons was born, his heart and love grew. Time with his boys was greater than any other, and they returned that love and admiration and will always chuckle about “grump’s” stories whether true or slightly embellished. His pride was obvious when he spoke about all aspects of the boys’ lives.
Arnold is predeceased by his wife of 63 years, Glenna, who passed June 20th, his parents Dorothy and Clarence “Digger” Odell. His siblings Earland, Gladys, Joyce, Ruth, Myrle, June, Norman, And two sisters in infancy. He was also predeceased recently by beloved nieces Betty Madussi (Sanders) and Wendy Kropelin (Strand)
Arnold left little to regret in life and had the stories to go with it. Left to grieve another loss, but smiling because of stories, memories, and the knowledge that he is reunited with his love, his two daughters Keri Odell (Terry Taylor), Patti Odell, the four grandsons he adored Chris Taylor (Jessie Grant), Brian Taylor, Adam Ryynanen (Steph Ryynanen), Ben Ryynanen (Isabella Boyes) , and great granddaughter his “sweetie Pie” Nora Ryynanen who lit up his days and always got a smile. Also, his special niece Gayle Gawley and so many beloved nieces and nephews that he loved sharing any time with.
A Memorial Service will be held Thursday October 7, 2021 at St Luke’s Anglican Church for 1:00 p.m. for both him and his wife Glenna.
If friends so desire donations made be made to St. Luke’s Anglican Church in Dryden or to the Lions Foundation of Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario through Steven’s Funeral Homes P.O. Box 412, Dryden, Ontario, P8N 2Z1. Condolences may be posted on Steven’s Funeral Homes Facebook page or at www.stevensfuneralhomes.ca.
As a family we once again thank everyone for their kindness, compassion, and friendship.