Arthur D. Soundy, 90, residing in Grand Island, formerly of Minden and Lexington, died on April 1, 2010, at the St. Francis Medical Center in Grand Island.

Art was born on Feb. 1, 1920, in Gothenburg to Arthur and Olga (Widholm) Soundy. In 1924 he moved to Minden, where he graduated from high school in 1938. Art earned his BA from Hastings College and his Master’s Degree from Kearney State College.

Art was a veteran of World War II (1942-45), serving in the South Pacific and occupied Japan. Art returned to Nebraska and started his long career as teacher, coach, and administrator. His teaching career started in Springfield. While a high school coach and teacher in Farnam, he met and married Patricia Rowland. After six years teaching and coaching in Cozad, in 1960 Art became principal of Pershing Elementary in Lexington, where he remained until his retirement in 1985. He was active in central Nebraska as an official at high school games and worked several decades throughout the Midwest as a crop adjustor. Throughout his school and working life Art remained active in athletics. He was a good father and respected educator who loved hunting and gardening.

Survivors include his wife, Patricia, of Grand Island; stepdaughter, Pam (James) Palmer, of Lincoln; two daughters, Susan (Roger) Soundy Williams, of Nora, and Ann (Jerry) Atkins, of Grand Island; three sons, Steven (Linda) Soundy, of Minden, Arthur (Cathy) John Soundy, of Hopewell, NJ; and Timothy (Elizabeth) Soundy, of Sioux Falls, S.D., as well as 18 grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by three sisters.

Services will be on Tuesday, April 6, at 11 a.m. at the Westminster United Presbyterian Church in Minden with the Rev. William Nottage-Tacey officiating. Burial will be at the Minden Cemetery. Visitation will be at the Layton-Craig Funeral Home in Minden on Monday from 6-8 p.m.

North Platte Telegraph, 4 April 2010