"Let me live by the side of the road
       And be a friend to Man" (Sam Foss)
 
Nathan Dudley Arne, Nap Arne, was born July 29,1938 in Forest City, IA to Leonard S. and Alma (Olson) Arne. He died at his home in Rockport, Texas on December 24, 2014, of glioblastoma brain cancer, a diagnosis he learned of and began treatment for in January 2014.

Nap was given his unique nickname as a baby, before he left the hospital and by his preference, it is how he introduced himself all his life. He was raised on a family farm near Leland, IA, then lived in the town of Forest City, IA during most of his high school years, graduating FCHS class of 1956. He then graduated from the University of Iowa and after that spent 4 years with the US Army in Korea and Japan as part of the Counter Intelligence Corps. 

He next spent a 30 year career as a civilian manager in helicopter weapon systems acquisitions with the US Army Aviation Systems Command, in St Louis, MO. As a manager, Nap put much time and thought into considering his employees' unique needs as individuals, spotting their potential talents, took pleasure in mentoring their personal and professional growth and then cheered them in their successes. He made many lifelong friendships there, including the unforgettable friends of "The Carpool".

What followed first in retirement for Nap, was 10 years on the beautiful Gasconade River in the Ozarks near Dixon, MO with many happy memories and outdoor adventures there with neighbors who became beloved friends. During the time living on the Gasconade, 8 enjoyable winters were spent in Rockport with an ensemble of other Winter Texans who became friends and returned each year to Hunt's Castle for continuing good times together. The Arnes decided in 2005 to move full time to Rockport. 

After the move to Rockport, Nap made more friends. Especially dear to him are his cribbage buddies, Ronald Stebbings and Geoff Bywater. He also thoroughly enjoyed friendships in two local poker groups and among the welcoming members of the Rockport Yacht Club, who taught him to sail. He enjoyed crewing in races for a time and had many other good times as an RYC member. Other very important friends to him are his wonderful Rockport Country Club neighbors, friends met through Aransas County Master Gardeners (particularly the Class of 2005), and his "Tuesday People" musician friends. 

Throughout his life, Nap loved his family and friends deeply and loved animals of all kinds, especially Dixie, his beloved dog for 16 ½ years, and Dan, Frances and Terry Frizzell's horse. As a former farm kid, who had often been around work horses and other large animals and had once owned a riding horse of his own in high school, it was always a treat to Nap, to now and then be asked to care for Dan and to spend time grooming him and making a fuss over him.

If you would have asked what was most important to Nap in going about his life, he would have answered, “… to be a kind person.” His other priority was the whole-hearted pleasure he took in his intersections with people, especially, having laughter and fun with others, "making memories", as he called it.

His family and his many, many friends will picture him in another place now, where, with Dixie at his feet, his spirit continues on just as we know him. That means...with the family and friends who are already there, along with other like-minded old souls, he is amusing and amazing everyone with his card and magic tricks and bringing smiles and laughter with his "Ostrich Walk" and Wide Mouth Frog joke. He is swing dancing, ten-stepping or teaching everyone a foot-stomping, hand-clapping line dance to "Tulsa Time".

He is having a good time giving out “gold” dollar coins or new shoe laces (!) to the surprise and delight of others, including strangers. He is playing poker, gin rummy, cribbage, 31, word games and Mexican Train with gusto. Getting everybody to, "go like this….ehhhhhh..." and then sing along with him, in a rollicking version of "The Battle of New Orleans", or he has the mike and is solo singing "Never-ending Love", "Country Roads", "The Auctioneer" or "Why Me, Lord" for everyone. 

He was a kind man with a positive attitude, a self-effacing, witty sense of humor and a natural talent to make a group come together in enjoyment, fun and friendship. He was much loved by many and memorable to everyone he met.

Relatives and friends, who he enjoyed, loved and was looking forward to seeing again, who are welcoming him and celebrating his arrival are:  his parents and his Grandpa, Olie Olson;  cousins - Dick and Mim;  in-laws - Ellie Arne, Bob Holt and Mark Lovell;  niece - Chris Hykal;  friends - Sharon Satow, Ray Woodruff, Marvin Selnow, Lynn Christian, Audrey Wyatt, Chuck Baker, Betty and Tom Stewart, Merry Bayer, Tom Bulger, Carl Hamilton, Vic Popiwny, Gerhard Robbins and of course, Dixie, his much loved dog. 

We, who are left behind, will miss him terribly. But we are hoping to someday get a seat with him at that table where he is now, where he and all the other old souls like him are gathered in eternal play, laughter and love. As a favorite song of Nap's goes, "In spite of ourselves, we'll end up sittin' on a rainbow." (John Prine)

Nap is survived by his wife, Elayne Arne, sister, Bonnie Holt of Las Vegas, NV, brother, Marshall Arne of Rockford, IL, his amazing and loving sons, in whom he took tremendous pleasure, comfort and pride, Chris (Catherine) Arne of Bethlehem, PA and Jay (Tammie) Arne of Elsberry, MO, grandchildren, Joe Arne of Austin, TX and Hannah Arne of Elsberry, MO, special nieces and nephews: Candy, Robert, Julie, Andy and Marshall and their families. 

His family wishes to specially acknowledge and thank Pastor George Haynes of Holy Cross Lutheran Church as well as Dr. Stan Haun and his wonderful staff for their exceptional care along with that of Margaret Young, RN, Sharol Hopkins and Georgina Levya, CNAs and Tracy Lovett, Aide. We wish to thank Nap's other team members from MD Anderson Cancer Center, Klare Physical Therapy, Corpus Christi Home Care (Rockport Office) and Harbor Hospice. The concern and efforts of all of these dedicated professionals added so much to the quality of Nap's life and that of his family during this challenging time. They took wonderful care of him, encouraged him, celebrated his accomplishments, even made him smile and laugh some, too as he faced what would come his way. In spite of it all, there was Nap's oft repeated, upbeat response, "Oh, doing good!", that we, his family and his caretakers will all remember as one of his greatest gifts to us. 

No public services are planned but condolences, thoughts, favorite memories, stories and photos of Nap are welcome and may be expressed and shared on-line at forevermissed.com, or if mailed, send to the Arne Family, PO Box 694, Rockport, TX 78381.

It is suggested that memorial donations in Nap's memory, be made to Rockport Horse Rescue at Amore Ranch, 3201 FM 1069, Rockport, TX 78382 (rockporthorserescue.com) or the Humane Society of Rockport and Fulton, PO Box 1502, Fulton, Texas 78358 (rockportfultonhumanesociety.org) or to another Humane Society of your choice.

"And when we die, we say we'll catch some blackbird's wing.
Then we will fly away to Heaven, come some sweet bluebonnet spring." 
   (Nanci Griffith)