OBITUARY: Arnold Dave Kroeker

Funeral service for Arnold Dave Kroeker, age 82 of Wasco, will be Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020, at 2 p.m. at the Mennonite Brethren Church of Shafter. Pastor Pat Coyle will officiate. Burial will be private at Shafter Memorial Park.

Arnold passed away peacefully beside his loving wife, Eunice, and surrounded by family on Jan 22, 2020, at Bakersfield Memorial Hospital. He was born on Oct. 18, 1937, in Shafter to David and Fern Kroeker.

Arnold was an active member of Mennonite Brethren Church of Wasco, and then later the Mennonite Brethren Church of Shafter. He worked in agriculture all his life, raised on a farm west of Wasco. Arnold graduated in 1956 from Wasco Union High School, where he was active in FFA. He worked almost a quarter-century for Bidart Brothers and only retired when he was unable to continue due to an injury.

He faithfully supported North Kern Christian School with many hours of labor. He thoroughly enjoyed helping NKCS's BBQ fundraiser, where he cooked chili beans in a 60-gallon kettle and would deep-pit meat in 2 large pits he had constructed. He also enjoyed cooking Borscht at the MCC sale in Fresno, usually cooking and serving 150 gallons over one weekend, with his family's help.

He is survived by his wife, Eunice Mae Kroeker (Bartel). They were married April 1, 1960 (no foolin'), happily married just shy of 60 years. He is also survived by his son Galen, his wife Loree, granddaughter Ashley, (her husband Matthew Smith and great-granddaughter Ryland) and granddaughter Emily, daughter Shirla Willems, her husband Byron Dean Willems and granddaughters AnnMarie and Katherine "KD" and son Byron, his wife Kristen and grandsons Noah (his wife Natalie), Joseph, Isaiah and David.

Memorial gifts can be made to North Kern Christian School in honor of Arnold Kroeker, 710 Peters St., Wasco 93280, phone 661-758-5997.

He loved spending time with family and friends and had many stories & ideas to share.

"Let me tell you just one more..."