Paul Arnold (Arnie) Wirthele widower of Carole Ann (Yearsley) Wirthele was born May 28, 1932 to Paul and Nellie (Kreifels) Wirthele on the family farm two miles west of Burr. He passed away March 24, 2014 at the Community Memorial Hospital in Syracuse, NE Arnold attended Rocky Ford Country School District Number 47 for eight years, from there he attended Burr High School for four years, graduating with the class of 1949. Through his 12 years of schooling Arnold had almost perfect attendance every year missing a few days while in the first grade because of chicken pox and again in his Senior year with the mumps. After graduation Arnold played baseball with the Burr town team for four years, playing mostly at short stop but sometimes other positions too.

He also was engaged in farming with his twin brothers and dad. Arnold was drafted into the Military Service on December 8, 1952 (Korean War) and spent two years in the Army, with 17 months of that time being in Germany. After being discharged from the service he once again went into farming with his brothers and has been a farmer the rest of his life.

On May 28, 1957 Arnold married Carole Yearsley, to this union four children were born, Patricia, Debra, Craig and Paul. In 1960 Arnold was elected to the Burr Elementary School Board, he served as Secretary Treasurer for nine years. Arnold has been a member of the Burr United Methodist Church since 1963, serving five years as chairman of the Administrative Board of the church council, also other positions in the church, including Sunday School Treasurer.

Arnold was a life time member of VFW Post 5547 of Syracuse.

Arnold has lived within two miles of Burr his entire life and on August 12th, 2007 he was honored with the Nebraska Pioneer Farm Award from the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben Foundation for his farm being in the family for 100 years.

Arnie is survived by his Children: Patricia (Wirthele) Bassett & Husband Steven, Debra (Wirthele) Todd & Husband Steven, Craig Arnold Wirthele & Wife Cheri, Gene Paul Wirthele & Wife Christine, Sister Doris Neubauer, Grandchildren: Adam, Kelsey, Jason & Brady Bassett, Laura Cushing, Bryan Todd, Lisa Williams, Jennifer Zapata, Rachel Wirthele, William, Jacob, and Matthew Wirthele, Austin, Katelyn and Haley Wirthele, Great Grandchildren: Thomas, Mary Ellen, Micah & Hannah Joy Zapata,  Carter Paul Cushing, Tret Wirthele, Bristol Wirthele

Arnie is preceded in Death By Parents Adam Paul Wirthele & Nellie L. Wirthele, Wife Carole Ann (Yearsley) Wirthele, Brothers Lee Wirthele & Leo Wirthele

Funeral services will be Friday March 28, 2014 at 2:00 P.M. at the Burr United Methodist Church, Burr, Nebraska, with burial at Hope Lutheran Cemetery.

Visitation will be Thursday, March 27, 2014 from 9:00 A.M. until 9:00 P.M. with the family greeting friends from 7:00 P.M. until 9:00 P.M. all at the Funeral Home.

Memorials are suggested to the family for later designation.

Fusselman-Allen-Harvey Funeral Home Syracuse, NE 402-269-2441