Arnold Nye

Arnold Nye

1925 - 2016

Obituary

A good man died on Dec. 3, 2016. Arnold Nye, a lifelong Newton resident, died on Saturday (Dec. 3, 2016). He was two weeks short of his 91st birthday. He was born in Newton on Dec. 17, 1925. Arnold was the youngest of three children born to J. Sidney and Grace (Cochran) Nye.

Arnold graduated from Newton High in 1943, and with the permission of his parents, joined the U.S. Navy at age 17. He served on the USS Solomons CVE 67. After his service, Arnold married his childhood sweetheart, Kathy Ashbaugh. They celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary this last summer. Arnold graduated from KU law school and returned to Newton in 1949 to practice first with his father, J. Sidney Nye, and then with his son, Gregory Nye.

Arnold retired in 2009, after 60 years of practice. He credited his long career to the patience and support of his wife, Kathy. Arnold used to say that when he was first married he and Kathy agreed that Kathy would make all the small decisions and he would make all the big decisions. And in 70 years of marriage, Arnold said he never had to make a decision.

Arnold was a lifelong member of Newton First Presbyterian Church. Also, Arnold and Kathy enjoyed traveling throughout the world and spent more than 40 winters in Mexico. He enjoyed gardening, spending time with his family and restoring Ford Model A's. Arnold and his family, as well as their friends, pheasant hunted in western Kansas every opening day for decades.

Arnold is survived by his wife Kathy of Newton; his daughter Pam Behymer of Newton; and his sons Gregory of Newton and Chris of Idaho.

Arnold was blessed with six grandchildren: Brock, Ashley, Shea, Rebecca, Cliff and Jacob; as well as six great-grandchildren.

Arnold was preceded in death by his parents J. Sidney and Grace Nye; as well as by his siblings Paul and Mary.

He was truly a member of the Greatest Generation and will be missed.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday (Dec. 7, 2016) at the First Presbyterian Church of Newton. There will be no public visitation and there will be a private graveside service at Greenwood Cemetery in Newton.

Memorials are suggested to the First Presbyterian Church Endowment Fund, in care of Petersen Funeral Home.