Susan Arndt

Susan Arndt, 72, of Oshkosh passed away Sunday, September 17, 2023 at her home.

Memorial Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, September 21, 2023 at St. Mark's Lutheran Church with Pastor Scotty Ray officiating.  Burial will follow in the Oshkosh City Cemetery.

The funeral service will be streamed live via the Holechek-Bondegard Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/hbfunerals) and available to watch after the service.

Holechek-Bondegard Funeral Home and Cremations in Oshkosh is serving the Arndt family.

Family and friends can leave condolences at www.bondegardfunerals.com.

Susan Elizabeth Arndt was born in Oshkosh,NE on August 12, 1951 to David and Helen (Meade) Fickes, joining her older brother Wayne David Fickes.  Susan was a class of 1969 Garden County High School graduate and furthered her education at Kearney State College with a Bachelor of Arts in Education degree.

Susan joined the family of Corwin and Michelle Arndt on August 6, 1972, marrying Corwin in Kearney, NE.  Matthew Arndt was born on June 23, 1975 in Oshkosh, NE.  

After a year of being the librarian at North Platte St. Pat’s, Susan returned to Oshkosh, NE during the summer of 1979.  The 1979-1980 school year was the start of her 35-yearlibrarian/media specialist career at Leyton Public Schools in Dalton and Gurley, NE.  After driving hundreds of thousands of miles through sunshine, rain, and snow, 100+ miles every day, she retired in May, 2014.  Susan took great pride in her library, her annual school/community tailgate party, and sponsoring the National Honor Society including their balloon fundraiser.  But most of all, she valued her lifelong personal friendships with fellow staff and students.

Susan stayed extremely busy with Job’s Daughters, acting as the Past Bethel Guardian of Bethel #46 Oshkosh and the Past Grand Guardian for the State of Nebraska 1991-92 International Order of Job’s Daughters.  She was also a member of the Oshkosh Chapter #264 Order of the Eastern Star, serving as Worthy Matron in 1984.  In December 2020, Susan became a 50-yearmember, and held the Secretary position since 2020.  She was also a member and council member of the St. Mark’s Lutheran church in Oshkosh, always decorating the church for holidays and tending to the flower gardens.

Grandma Sue, as often recognized by the patrons of Creek Valley Schools, always showed huge support for Sami and Eli’s sporting events and activities. And everyone knew that Susan liked to mow…A LOT.  She was always on that zero-turn mower keeping the yard in immaculate condition and the weeds in check. She loved keeping up her flower gardens, lilac, and rose bushes.  The house inside was never lacking seasonally decorated knick-knacks (and who couldn’t admire a good nativity scene). She wasn’t scared to test the penny slots from time to time, but never had a definite answer as to how she did upon return from the casino.  She was always eager to sit down and listen to Matt and Brandi’s hunting/fishing/travel stories and Michelle and Dan’s pharmacy/farming/kid’s stories.

Corwin and Susan were married 38 years before Corwin’s passing on December 31, 2010.  Susan passed away in her home on September 17, 2023, a place she dearly loved.

Preceded in death by her parents David and Helen Fickes, husband Corwin Arndt, brother Wayne Fickes, sister-in-law Marlynn Fickes, brother-in-law Gary Purchase, and her favorite dog Coco.

Survived by son Matthew (Brandi) Arndt, daughter Michelle (Dan) Schmid, and grandchildren Samantha and Eli Schmid. 

Memorials can be made out to Matthew Arndt.  Donations will be distributed to St. Mark’s Lutheran Church and Leyton Public Schools.