Arnold Pettit

LONE TREE, CO - Arnold L. Pettit, 98, of Lone Tree, Colorado, and previously Bradford, Illinois, passed away peacefully on October 13, 2021. Born on a farm in Castleton, Illinois, on October 24, 1923, he was raised by his parents Gilbert and Vera (Newton) Pettit along with his four younger siblings Noland, Roland, Carolyn, and Howard.

Arnold was married for 73 happy years to the love of his life, Eileen Barler. Married in Wyoming, Illinois on July 29, 1943, Arnold and Eileen farmed in Stark County upon his return from service in World War II, and built and ran a farm outside Bradford together along with their children, Sharon, Jim, Connie, and Chris. In their later years, the happy couple retired to Colorado to be closer to some of their adult children.

From an early age Arnold was a true patriot with a deep love for his country, and felt the call to duty in the wake of the Pearl Harbor attacks in 1941. Initially he was denied enlistment despite multiple efforts as the ongoing national crisis of the Great Depression made farm labor too important to sacrifice to the war effort, but a lifelong stubborn streak proved too much even for Uncle Sam to deny and he ultimately enlisted in 1943 and found himself on a ship heading for the Pacific front in the spring of 1945.

Arnold gave heroic and courageous service during the war as a member of the 127th Regiment of the 32nd Infantry Division, at one point saving a group of his platoon-mates pinned down by a Japanese machine gun nest by exposing himself long enough to draw the gunner’s attention, giving his fellow GIs a chance to escape to a safe position. His commanding officer planned to recommend him for the Silver Star for valor, but was killed in action before he could formally make the application. Arnold’s humility made him reluctant to follow up any further but the memory of his actions, along with the rest of his time overseas, stayed with him the rest of his life.

After his service in the army Arnold came home to Eileen and they began their life together in earnest. They bought 240 acres of land back in Bradford and set out to build a thriving farm from scratch. Over the next 65 years they raised cattle, pigs, and chickens, and farmed fields of corn and soybeans. Farming was Arnold’s passion, and he and the family enjoyed every aspect of life on the farm. The Pettit family enjoyed steaks from the cattle they raised and ate fried chicken picnics down by the river and fish fries with neighboring families were a regular event. The family spent their days and nights outdoors, enjoying the kind of free and independent lifestyle that defined the spirit of the postwar American heartland.

Arnold and Eileen were also lifelong best friends, and as their children grew older and started lives of their own the two lovebirds set out to continue the shared adventures they began when they fell in love as kids. They spent 23 winters drinking margaritas and doing the chicken dance in Brownsville, Texas, surrounded  by a wonderful group of friends and neighbors that affectionately came to be known as the “Bradford Club.” During the rest of the year back home Arnold and Eileen loved attending ice cream socials and pancake breakfasts, taking the fifth wheel to tractor pulls, trips to Mt Pleasant, and as many state fairs as they could find. After many years of laughter and love, their lifelong partnership came to an end when Eileen passed on June 20, 2015.

In the years since, Arnold continued serving his country as a member of the American Legion, attending the funerals of hundreds of fellow service veterans as a member of the color guard.

In addition to his beloved wife, Arnold is predeceased by his brother Howard, and his grandson Troy Lewis.

He is survived by his brothers Noland and Roland, sister Carolyn; daughter Sharon (John) Marshall, son Jim Pettit (Terri Giorgi), daughter Connie (Bob) Lewis, daughter Chris Lawrence; grandchildren, Sean (Lisa) Lewis, and Jaki (Rob) Lawrence; and great-grandchildren Amelia Lewis and Lucas Riebling; and many nieces and nephews whom he also loved dearly.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Arnold’s memory to the American Legion of Castle Rock, Colorado or Bradford, Illinois.
The American Legion Dept. of Colorado
7465 E 1st Ave Ste D
Denver, CO 80230
(In memory of Arnold Pettit in the memo line)

IL Post 0445
PO Box 391
Bradford, IL 61421-0391 (In memory of Arnold Pettit in the memo line)

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