Mary Arnold:
CLASS OF 1969
West High SchoolClass of 1969
Davenport, IA
Rockridge High SchoolClass of 1993
Taylor ridge, IL
Saint Ambrose UniversityClass of 1987
Davenport, IA
Mary's Story
Life
Many of you probably know a great deal of my biography. I attended St. Ambrose in 1971-1973 in the Music Education program. In 1972, I married John Arnold. We lived in Davenport. He commuted to Iowa City and I continued at St. Ambrose. In 1973, we moved to Cedar Rapids where he worked at Link Belt Corporation. During that year, I started classes in Iowa City but dropped out and decided to work and start a family. We moved back to Davenport in 1974 so that John could work with his dad at Arnold's Body Shop. I worked at Ruhl & Ruhl Insurance for a year during which time I became pregnant with my first child. Joe was born in September of 1975. Two years later, our daughter, Katie was born.
We became members of First Presbyterian Church in 1977 where John and I joined the choir.
In 1979, I took some classes at St. Ambrose and then found out I was once again pregnant. In October of 1980, Annie, was born. My father died two weeks before she was born of lung cancer.
I returned to St. Ambrose in 1983 and graduated in the fall of 1986 with a B.A. in Music Education. I did some substitute teaching that spring and applied for some positions the next year. I took a part-time position at Jordan Catholic Schools in Rock Island, Il. I only worked there one year. I did more substitute teaching after that including a year at Holy Family Catholic School. Of course, as a mother of very active children, there were many trips to school functions and extra-curricular events to drive back and forth.
I took on some volunteer work at my church and eventually became a Stephen Minister for the church in 1992.
I continued as a choir member at the church and sang in other community choirs including Quad City Music Guild's production of Cinderella in 1990.
My son graduated from West in 1994. He attended UNI the next fall.
My daughter, Katie, graduated in January of 1995. My mother died one week before her graduation with lung cancer.
In 1996, we built a new home in Northwest Davenport...Expand for more
. In 1997, we celebrated 25 years of marriage.
In 1998, I became a Stephen Minister Leader after taking the Leader training in Orlando. That August, John became very ill. After surgery for diverticulitis and removal of a kidney, he regained his strength. However, in March of 1999, he asked me for a divorce. This started, obviously, a time of great crisis for me. I took a good look at my life and felt called to become a chaplain. I had been working as a chaplain volunteer (befriender) at Genesis or St. Luke's. I applied for and was accepted in the Clinical Pastoral Education at Genesis Hospital in the fall of 1999. In the spring of 1999, I moved into a condo as I anticipated entering seminary in the summer. The two girls lived in the condo while I moved to Louisville, Kentucky to go to Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. I have been in school since then and will graduate in May 2004 with a Masters of Divinity. From there, I hope to be ordained as a Minister of Word and Sacrament in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
My son, Joe, works at the body shop with his dad while working on his M.B.A. Katie is in college in Chicago (Columbia College) where she is learning to produce sound for all sorts of productions. Annie got married to Jeremiah McMahon last summer. His dad is Gerald McMahon, '68 graduate of West, who died two years ago of a heart attack. Annie & Jeremiah are both attend St. Ambrose in the Education program. Annie will graduate next spring and hopes to get an English teaching job in the area.
And, life goes on!
College
I am no longer a music teacher, but I am still singing in church and whenever I have a chance. I am nearing the end of a Masters in Divinity Degree at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. Very soon I will be seeking a call to a church. I will continue to use my music. Music continues to bring me great joy. It is a gift from God.
My children are all grown. Two of them still live in Davneport. The other one is in Chicago for now.
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