Arnold Joseph Edrich

Arnold Joseph Edrich passed away September 17, 2013. He was 79 years 9 months and 3 days old and lived a full and beautiful life. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Rosemarie (Weibel) Edrich; his six children, John (Lynne Knight), Dawn Straley (Marty), Mary (John Jeffers), Rick (Heather), David, and Kathy (Alan Resnick); and seven grandchildren, Kristin Edrich, Matt Edrich, Megan Straley, Tim Straley, Cecilia Jeffers, Becky Hopkins (David), and Rachel Edrich. Also left to mourn are brother Duane (Annie), sister Mickey Bray (Gary), sister Joanne Kendrick, sisters-in-law Ceil Edrich and Mary Edrich, brother-in-law Jack Weibel (Ingrid), sister-in-law Betty Weibel Kenny (Bob), and numerous nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends. He is preceded in death by grandson Mark Edrich, daughter-in-law Pam Edrich, his parents and brothers George, Clifford, Jim, Roger, and Tom. Arnie was born in Hoven, South Dakota, December 14, 1933 to George and Minnie (Duenwald) Edrich. The middle of 9 surviving siblings and the 5th boy, his childhood was filled with mischief and adventures that sparked many great and loved stories. His family and the small Hoven community, centered around Saint Anthony' s Catholic Church, instilled the values and faith that carried him always through life. He developed an incredible work ethic from an early age, working all kinds of odd jobs around town and serving as an altar boy at Saint Anthony's. He graduated from Hoven High School class of 1951 and enlisted in the U.S. army where he served from 1953 to 1955. He followed his oldest brother, George, out to Denver to establish himself before returning to Hoven to marry his bride, Rosemarie. They bought their one and only home together in southwest Denver where they successfully raised six children. He always stressed the importance of a good education, hard work and trying your best. Among his proudest accomplishments were being able to send all six children through college and raising them to be good and responsible adults. Arnie joined the Denver Fire Department and was at Station 11 and Station 22 over his 31-year career from 1961 through 1991, working most of those years as Engineer. The antics at the stations always made for more great story-telling. Arnie's firehouse work schedule allowed him to always work one or two part-time jobs. The extra income helped with the large family and let him reinforce his constant mantra to his children that the most important thing about earning a living is not how much you earn but how much you can save for the future. Arnie enjoyed travel, sports, playing cards, and memories of growing up in Hoven. He was a happy, generous, and caring man; ever ready with a joke or a good story. He found endless joy being with, watching and helping his grandchildren grow. He always expressed that family is the most important thing in life. To him, family included friends, neighbors and even strangers. There was nothing he wouldn't do for a friend or someone in need. He loved us all dearly, never tiring of offering help, support and advice. He was truly a dad until the day he died - teaching us about what life has to offer to the very end. Just last week he said in reply to a comment about God wanting him in Heaven, ""But that's what I want, too. We are put on this earth - we're born to go to Heaven. That's the purpose of life. If you can't understand that, then it's not worth living."" Arnie knew the way to Heaven. He lived to love us. He lived to serve God, his family, and fellow man. He was a member of Notre Dame Catholic Church, the Retired Firefighter's Association of Denver, and the American Legion Post 159 of Hoven, South Dakota. A Visitation will be held Sunday, September 22, 2013 from 5:00-7:00 pm the Rosary will follow starting at 7:00 pm, both at Horan & McConaty Family Chapel, 3101 South Wadsworth Boulevard, Lakewood, Colorado. A Funeral Mass will be Monday, September 23, 2013 10:00 AM at Notre Dame Catholic Church, 2190 South Sheridan Boulevard, Denver, CO 80219. A luncheon will follow mass. Burial will be at Ft. Logan National Cemetery at a later date. Memorials can be made to St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church (the Cathedral of the Prairie), PO Box 98, Hoven, SD, 57450; Notre Dame Catholic Church, 2190 S. Sheridan Blvd., Denver, CO 80219; or the American Cancer Society for Colorectal Cancer Research. The Firefighter's Prayer When the last alarm has sounded And my life on earth is done Thank you Lord for choosing me To be the fire fighting one A calling to serve others In time of desperate need, To offer help and comfort With loyalty and speed Fires extinguished, lives saved, Hose and ladders put away All done for another day Now those bells have tolled for me, With call from Heaven above: Well done my faithful servant, Now rest in unending love Lord bless my friends and family With peace and divine love, Keep them safe until they join me In Your wonderful Heaven above. Please share memories of Arnold and condolences with his family by signing the online guestbook below.