Arthur L. Ward Sr., 87, of Gresham, passed away on Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015, in Shawano.
Arthur was born on May 7, 1928, in Nakina, North Carolina, to the late Arthur and Alice (Beech) Ward. He enlisted and served our country in the United States Coast Guard.
Arthur lived most of his life in the Gresham area, where he and his family lived on a farm. He worked nearby on a mink ranch and later in life he drove for a trucking company.
Arthur was a member of St. Francis Solanus Catholic Church. He was a jokester, enjoyed working in the garden and deer hunting, and found it important to be respectful to others.
Arthur is survived by his children, Margaret (Gary) Eberhard Sr., of Shawano, Mary DuBois, of Shawano, Patricia (Dave) Adkins, of Gresham, Dennis Ward, of Shawano, James (Judy) Ward, of Shawano, Jeff (Gabriela) Ward, of Gresham, Charles (Marilyn) Ward, of Shawano, William (Andrea) Ward, of Gresham, and Arthur (Jody) Ward Jr., of Gresham; 12 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren; several stepgrandchildren and great-stepgrandchildren; one sister, Grace Williams, of North Carolina; as well as his former wife, Lucille (Ovans) Ward.
He was preceded in death by one grandson, his parents, three sisters and two brothers.
A funeral Mass will be held at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015, at St. Francis Solanus Catholic Church in Gresham with the Rev. Joel Jores officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be held at the church on Thursday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service. Military rites will be conducted by Gresham American Legion Post 390.
Swedberg Funeral Home of Shawano is assisting the family with the arrangements.
The family would like to send a special thank you to the staff at Birch Hill Nursing Home and ThedaCare at Home Hospice for their wonderful care.