Obituary of Harold J. Arents

Harold J. Arents, son of John and Freda (Hanson) Arents was born on September 13, 1925 at Leonardville, Kansas . He departed life at Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan, Kansas on September 6, 2015, surrounded by his family after bravely fighting an illness for 19 days. He departed this life just 7 days before his 90th birthday. Harold was a lifelong Leonardville area farmer, actively farming from childhood until retiring at the age of 80 and then moving with his wife, Mary Jane to Clay Center. His childhood was spent attending school in Leonardville and Walsburg area. He also attended Leonardville High School. He continued working on his farm until retirement. On June 2, 1984, Harold was united in Holy Matrimony to Mary Jane Shorman Stroade at the Countryside United Methodist Church, where they attended regularly. Harold and Mary Jane enjoyed a rich life working together on the farm, traveling from coast to coast to visit family, attending church together at Fairview Presbyterian Church, where both he and Mary Jane were descendants of founding members Arents and Shorman. His main joy was spending time with grandchildren and great grandchildren. Harold was preceded in death by a sister Vera and brother-in-law Ralph Lovgren. Harold will be greatly missed by his wife, Mary Jane of Clay Center; daughters Christine (Loren) Polak of St. Louis,Laurie (Allen) Brotherton of Springfield, MO, Nina Stroade of Tampa, FL and son Stephen Stroade of Kansas City, MO. He is also survived by the following grandchildren and great grandchildren: Jason (Cassie) Stewart (Jayde, Deion and Steven), Levi (Krista) Grant (Connor and Trent), and Stephanie (Nathan) Doran of Springfield, MO; Jami (Sven) Finan (Brennan, Landon and Jaelyn) of Land O Lakes, FL; Erica (Travis) Gardner (Savannah) of Hudson, FL; Matt (Jessica) Nartker (Jacob, Kelsey and Jackson) of Tampa, FL; Meredith (Brian) Saeger (Charlotte) and Macie) of St. Charles, MO; Jared and Amy Polak (Justus) of Houston, TX and Daniel Stroade of Kansas City, MO; his sister Jean (George) Weisner, brother-in-law Don (Barbara) Shorman, sister-in-law Carol Shorman (late Bill Shorman), brother-in-law Dwaine (Rosalie) Shorman and sister-in-law Lalla (Arvan) Steenbock, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and many precious friends. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 A.M. Thursday, September 10, 2015 at the Anderes-Pfeifley Funeral Home in Riley with Rev. D. Erich Schwartz officiating. Respect calls may be made anytime Wednesday. The family will receive friends from 7 - 8:00 P.M. Wednesday. Burial will be in the Fairview Cemetery. Harold was a humble man who loved God and his family and although life will go on, the void from his passing will never be filled. In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established for the Northern Riley County Food Pantry and Fairview Presbyterian Church. Contributions may be left in care of the Anderes-Pfeifley Funeral Home.