Lowell Arps

Lowell Fred Arps was born April 9, 1925, to Fred Jacob and Mable Justena (Peterson) Arps in Arcadia, Iowa. He was raised in Arcadia and then the family moved to Woodbine when Lowell was 10 years old. Lowell graduated from Woodbine High School in 1943. Lowell proudly served his country in the United States Navy from 1943 ~ 1947. Lowell married Patricia Ann Fischer, his high school sweetheart, on June 5, 1944, at the Presbyterian Church in Woodbine. After his honorable discharge Lowell taught school at Warham Country School near Woodbine, Iowa and then in Persia, Iowa for one year. In the fall of 1949 Lowell attended Iowa State University and received his degree in Agricultural Education. He taught Vo-Ag in Lamoni, Iowa for one year and in Logan for six years. In 1961 Lowell bought the family farm (where he most recently lived.) From 1961-1963 Lowell helped build the Woodbine School addition. In the fall of 1963 Lowell was the junior and senior high Lo-Ma science teacher ~ eventually he was just the junior high teacher. Lowell took summer classes at Maryville, Missouri from 1965-1969 to get his master degrees. He became the principal of Lo-Ma in 1969 and retired from there in 1986. Pat died May 23, 2004. Lowell married Gwen (Buker) Straight on June 11, 2011, at the Woodbine United Methodist Church.

Lowell was a member of the Woodbine United Methodist Church and a 50+ year member of the Masonic Lodge. He enjoyed dancing and playing cards. In his retired years he did a lot of carpentry work. Lowell was an avid ISU fan. When ISU was in the Big 8, Lowell and Pat went to every stadium - except Nebraska's to watch the Cyclones. Lowell was also a founding member of the Woodbine Alumni Scholarship.

Lowell died on Friday, June 19, 2015, at the Rose Vista Nursing Home in Woodbine, Iowa at the age of 90 years, two months, and 10 days.

Lowell was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Patricia Arps; two sons, Keith and Lloyd Arps; two sisters, Vera Hansen and Irma Hafkey. He is survived by his wife, Gwen Arps of Woodbine, Iowa; daughter, Mary Jo (Dick) Bonsall of Dunlap, Iowa; six grandchildren; seven great grandchildren; brother, Lloyd Arps of Memphis, Missouri; two daughters-in-law, Jean Hicks of Cordova, Tennessee, Sue Durfee of Council Bluffs, Iowa; and many other relatives and friends.