Arnold Kretzmann, 99 of Brush, passed away December 31, 2011 at Eben Ezer Lutheran Care Center. Arnold was born Aug. 27, 1912 in of Sylvan Grove, Kansas. Parents were Gustav and Louise (Kohler) Kretzmann. Arnold was baptized and confirmed in Bethlehem Lutheran Church. He had one brother, Walter, and two sisters, Emma Lou and Hilda., who all preceded him in death.

He graduated from St. John's Academy, Winfield, Kansas in 1930. He attended the University of Kansas at Lawrence, 1930-1934. His first job out of college was a reporter for the Horton, Kansas Headlight. He retired at 65 from the Phoenix Gazette in 1977.

After WWII he owned weekly newspapers at Norwood, Brighton, and Nederland in Colorado and Tooele in Utah.

With a friend, Gerald Braley, they bought an eighteen foot boat and went down the Missouri and Mississippi rivers from Atchison, Kansas to New Orleans in 1935. After a year in California, where Arnold was employed at the Douglas Aircraft Co., they continued their journey around the world in 1937.

During WWII Arnold was in the Navy, based mostly at Pearl Harbor. He served as a navy photographer at the invasion of Iwo Jima.

He and Phoebe Taylor were married in Lyons, Kansas on March 3, 1940. She died at age 46 of a brain tumor. On October 26, 1968 Arnold and Evelyn Gott were married at Messiah Lutheran Church in Grand Junction.

Arnold's main outdoor activities were hiking and horseback riding. Arnold was a life member of the VFW, KU Alumni Assn., Society of Professional Journalists, and St. John's College Alumni Assn. He and Evelyn are members at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Fort Morgan.

Arnold is survived by wife Evelyn; her daughter, Rebecca; a granddaughter, Robin Mianai; and great-granddaughters Olivia and Emerson.
Arnold was cremated according to his wishes, and no immediate plans have been made for a service. Inurnment will be held at a later date in Lyons, Kansas.