Arlynn O'Connor

A link to view the live streaming of Arlynn's funeral: https://youtu.be/an4rEulcWZ4

   Eda Arlynn “Tootie” O’Connor, age 101, died Friday, July 1, 2022, peacefully in her own home with the love of her family surrounding her.

   Arlynn was born in Obert, NE on March 2, 1921. She was born in the first two-story house in Obert and thus began her trail blazing life. Arlynn was the fifth born of six children to Ludwig and Esther Stolpe. Arlynn graduated from Obert High School in 1939. She attended one year at Wayne State Teachers College and began her teaching career at Logan Valley Country School. One of her favorites stories is that she sat at her desk and opened her drawer only to find a snake! They had to summon her brother-in-law to come and remove it. She was married to Roy Forney on September 7, 1941 and unable to teach as a married person as it was not allowed at that time.

   Arlynn had her first child, Dianne, followed by Jon, Vicki, Susan and Patricia, while working as a farm wife, feeding the farm hands. She returned to teaching in 1953 in the Newcastle and Wynot area, while continuing her own education during summers, in order to renew her teaching certificate and earn her Bachelor’s Degree. The family moved to Sibley, IA in 1960 where she taught for two years.

   On August 8, 1962 she married J Byron O’Connor and they moved to Sioux City, where she taught in the Webster and Everett schools. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in 1964 from Wayne State College. Feeling she could help more students in the Reading Lab than teaching, she accepted the position of Reading Lab Instructor. She received her Master’s Degree in Elementary Education in 1974 from the University of South Dakota. After 32 years of teaching, she retired from classroom environments in 1986. Even after retiring, education was a passion and she tutored numerous students well into her 90s.

   Arlynn’s greatest accomplishment was her family. She travelled all over attending as many events as possible for her family members, taking great pride in being part of their lives. If anyone needed her, she would be there. Arlynn enjoyed staying busy; her hobbies were sewing, word searches, reading and dancing. Knowing Arlynn also meant having a crochet hat – she created 19,472 of them and distributed to many! Her beloved home in Sioux City was the meeting point for her family and she enjoyed opening her doors for laughter, love and some serious card games. Arlynn long served as the family historian and her Swedish heritage was very important to her. She was part of the original committee that started the Bengtson – Stolpe – Nedergaard family reunion which will gather this year for their 55^th Annual Reunion. The family history book that she compiled tells the story from generations before us and will help to keep the stories alive long after her. A highlight of Arlynn’s day was sharing an ice cream treat with her faithful companion Katie.

   She served important roles in organizations dear to her: Sioux City Area Retired Educators, was a charter member of Alpha Delta Kappa, an honorary society, VASA, and the Scandinavian Club. She was a long-time member of St John Lutheran Church. She supported her church through serving as Superintendent of Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, Altar Society and a member of Busy Workers who collected and made quilts, kits and various care packages to send overseas. A lasting touch she leaves behind is the three bells ringing after the service was over.

   Arlynn is survived by her five children: Dianne (Marvin) Schock of Bismarck, ND, Jon (Lynda) Forney of Grant, NE, Vicki Ippensen of Sioux City, IA, Susan Baker of Sheridan, WY and Patricia (Ralph) Cato of Fresno, CA; step daughter-in-law Judy O’Connor of Gilbert, AZ; sister-in-law Janet (Paul) Stolpe of Magnet, NE; 10 grandchildren: Michael Sullivan, Jeff Forney, Jaralyn Forney, Derek Ippensen, Karl Wike, Shawn Ippensen, Jeremy Wike, Aaron Odom, Brittany Puckett, and Cheri Miles; 22 great grandchildren; and family all over the world, including Pender.

   She is preceded in death by her parents Ludwig and Esther Stolpe; brothers: Bert, Vernon and Paul Stolpe; sisters: Lucille Anderson and Lorine Hardy; ex-spouses Roy Forney and J Bryon O’Connor; special friend Stan Swanson; sons-in-law: Gary Sullivan, Ken Ippensen and Jerry Baker; step son Patrick O’Connor and her beloved dogs Katie 1 and Katie 2.

   A visitation will be held on Tuesday, July 5^th at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel at 3220 Stone Park Blvd., from 5 to 8 pm, with a prayer service at 7 pm. A Celebration of Life, officiated by Pastor Jeff Swanson, will take place at St John Lutheran Church, at 28^th and Jackson, in Sioux City at 10:30 am on Wednesday, July 6^th. A luncheon reception will immediately follow. Arlynn will be laid to rest at the Obert, NE Cemetery at approximately 1:30 pm.

   Memorials may be sent to St John Lutheran Church or the Obert Cemetery in care of Colleen Stolpe, Treasurer. Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel has been entrusted with local arrangements; online condolences can be made at meyerbroschapels.com, as well as a link to view the live streaming of services. Above all, love one another – she would have wanted it that way.