Dorrance Elmer Arnold, 84, of Oelwein passed away on Friday, January 26, 2018 at Mercy Living Plus in Oelwein. Visitation will be from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Wednesday at the Geilenfeld Funeral Home in Oelwein with a military service at 7:00 pm led by American Legion Ross Reid post #9. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 am on Thursday, February 1, 2018 at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Oelwein with Father Ray Atwood officiating.  A memorial has been established for the American Heart Association.

Dorrance was born on November 18, 1933 in Manchester, Iowa, the son of Charles and Anne (Warner) Arnold.  He graduated from Manchester High School in 1951. He entered the U. S. Army under the Selective Service in February of 1956.  On November 21, 1959 he was united in marriage to Jean Steils at St. Athanasius Catholic Church in Jesup, Iowa. Dorrance was a machinist for over thirty years with the Chicago Great Western Railroad and later the Union Pacific Railroad.  He enjoyed the great outdoors, cutting wood, hunting deer and turkey, and trout fishing.  His greatest enjoyment came from time spent with his family, especially his grandchildren and great grandchildren.  They will dearly miss him

Dorrance is survived by his wife, Jean; a son, Kevin (Kerry) Arnold of Johnson Creek, Wisconsin; a daughter Deb (Randy) Ralston of Fairfax, Iowa; three grandchildren, Bryan (Alli) Arnold, Tyler (Kristi Elles) Arnold and Ashley (Loren) Lehman; three great grandchildren, Vivienne Arnold, Leo Arnold and Aubrey Lehman; a brother, Dean (Elsie) Arnold of Lansing Michigan and a sister, Doreen Renfrow of Minneapolis, Minnesota. He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Anne; two brothers, Kenneth “Bud” and Dale Arnold; three sisters Charlene (in infancy), Betty and Marjorie and a granddaughter, Lindsay Arnold.