Rose Marie Arnhold was born on June 2, 1941 to Ruth (Eck) and Alfred Petracek in Denver, Colorado and passed away on June 18, 2024 in Lafayette, Colorado. She resided in Hays, Kansas the majority of her life. She was raised in Jennings, Kansas and graduated from Jennings High School. She received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Sociology from Fort Hays State University (FHSU). She taught in the public school system at Hays High School for five years before accepting a position at Fort Hays State University. She taught at FHSU from 1969-2017 and served as Chair of Sociology Programs and Social Work from 1994-2008. Her areas of focus included gender, family, aging, death and dying and majority/minority studies. Rose’s passion was teaching and she received numerous awards for her performance in the classroom. She was among the first to receive the Pilot Award for outstanding teaching at FHSU, she was one of six university professors to teach in the first Regents Honor Academy in 1987 and she was recognized as Kansas Professor of the Year by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education in 1988. In 2003 she was honored with the Alumni Achievement Award at Fort Hays State University.
In June of 1961 she married Gerald (Jerry) Arnhold and their daughter Cheryl was born in 1963. Cheryl became and remained the focus of their lives. Rose was a beloved wife, mother, sister, daughter, grand-mother, great grand-mother and friend. She was preceded in death by her mother, Ruth Petracek, father, Alfred Petracek, husband, Gerald Arnhold, sisters, Ruth Chance and Dorothy Webster, brothers, Raymond Kraft and Herb Petracek. She is survived by her daughter, Cheryl Johnson (friend Richard Harris), three grandchildren, Jacqueline Rose Johnson (friend Pat Wynne), Jason Johnson (Gabi Ketzenbarger), Justine (Keegan) Begley, and two great grandchildren, Isaac and Isla Begley. Rose loved spending time with her family and friends. She valued and nurtured all of her relationships.
Deeply spiritual, Rose sought to better understand the connection between the human condition and our place within the universe. She placed great importance on community involvement and her impact was immeasurable. She was especially proud of her efforts which culminated in the establishment of the Northwest Kansas Family Shelter, The Rape Crisis Center and Hospice of the Plains. She was the first professor to serve as the faculty sponsor for the FHSU LGBTQ student organization in 1992. She was ahead of her time in support of many causes including women’s rights. She was an author of publications and books and provided in-service training for law enforcement, teachers, nurses, court officers and conducted many support groups. She was a member of the Hays Humane Society board for many years and being an animal lover she always had a furry friend at her side. Her dog, Happy, was cuddled up next to her when she peacefully passed away.
With her passing, the world lost a luminous presence. She touched countless lives and has been described as influential, a guiding force, impactful, an advocate, one in a million, a mentor, inspirational, courageous, a role model, a saint and a sage. With a kind heart she made a such difference during the time of her dash 1941-2024. She will be profoundly missed. How fortunate we all were to know and love her.
In lieu of flowers she asked that those wishing to memorialize her engage in an act of kindness toward another.
Please join us for Rose’s Celebration of Life
Saturday, August 24, 2024 at 10:00am
Fort Hays State University
Fort Hays Ballroom, Memorial Union
700 College Drive
Hays, Kansas 67601
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