A life celebration for Arleen Etnyre is now at hand for this 100 year-old wife, mother and trusted friend, better known to those close to her, simply as “Uppie” who passed on July 23, 2023.
Born in Mt. Carroll, Illinois to parents Emil and Anna, of Norwegian and Swedish ancestry, on February 22, 1923, she was the youngest of her three other siblings: Clarence, Evelyn and Ethyl. She considered herself a “city girl” and loved art, writing and dreams of travel to exotic locales. Did I forget that she loved, loved, loved cats? Domestic and wild.
Her best friend was Bernita, a fellow schoolmate, who with then boyfriend Warren, later husband, introduced her to Wayne, a handsome lad with black hair and hazel eyes. Her future husband.They married in the Spring of 1942, Arleen becoming a “country wife”
They had 3 children, David, Gary and Susan, who were raised during the Great Depression. Gary passed in infancy after 4 days.
They re-located to various small towns in northern Illinois, where Wayne farmed, learned how to clerk sales of livestock, estate sales and auctioneering. This led to the eventual purchase, with the help of his father Clyde, of a livestock market in Winslow. Son David also joined the family business. Arleen worked in the front office, handling accounts, billing, and helped setup the small cafe there. Her writing passion gained traction and several of her stories were published in the Freeport Journal Standard where she was a feature guest editor.
Life brought them to Florida in 1979, where they found a warmer climate in Fern Park and then to St. Augustine. Arleen nurtured her love of writing, joining a writer’s club, moving back to Central Florida, following Wayne’s death, following 49 years of marriage and succumbing to prostate cancer at age 69.
Arleen was drawn to helping seniors in need of light housekeeping, cooking and companionship, working with The Council on Aging and Good Samaritan Nursing Services, while living in Casselberry and then at The Plymouth, in Winter Park. Comments from her care recipients during this 5 year profession include: “very kind & gentle nature”, “in every respect a lady”, “interested in many things & is well-read”, ” an excellent cook”, “often goes out of her way to do things not required”, and “professional competency of the highest level”.
She was compassionate, kind, thankful and could be proud of her many friends and family. Son David and wife Nancy of 52 years, their children Michelle of Ellijah, GA, son Jeff of Idaho Falls, ID, their respective spouses, Scott, Michalene, grandchildren Tyler, Ashley, Kennedy and Mason, along with daughter Susan and son-in-law Jeff share fond memories of a life “well-lived”.