Arthur Schooley

Arthur William Schooley, 91, of Wayland, Iowa and former resident of Bloomfield, Iowa passed away on March 1, 2019 at his home. He was born September 22, 1927 on a farm near Grinnell, Iowa to Viola G. (Fleener) Schooley and Harold E. Schooley. Art grew up in Grinnell and attended Parker and Davis Elementary Schools and graduated from Grinnell High School in 1945. He married Viola Carmen Wyss on September 15, 1945 in Newton, Iowa. Five sons blessed this marriage and kept the couple active and praying.

The first 13 years of marriage, Arthur was in the produce business – first with his Father-in-law, Herb Wyss, and then on his own in Belle Plaine, Iowa. He then went into the livestock business dealing in feeder pigs for several years. Arthur helped start the first fat cattle auction in the state of Iowa in Belle Plaine working for the Tubaugh brothers. In 1965, the family moved to Washington, Iowa and Arthur worked with Jack Scheeler at Washington Livestock Sales (Iowa’s first fed cattle auction) and later moved to Wayland where he worked with Max Roth at the Wayland Sales Company. In 1971, Arthur and Carmen moved to Bloomfield and became partners in the Bloomfield Livestock Market and later in the Grinnell Livestock Exchange until retirement.

He and Carmen always worked together in their business ventures. In retirement, he continued to help the boys and their families in the business and on the farm.

Arthur and Carmen traveled quite extensively and spent the winters in Alamo, Texas for 30 years, beginning in 1985.

Arthur was a very devoted husband, father, and grandfather. When his boys were small the minister used Arthur as an example of a good, caring, and understanding father in the Father’s Day sermon.

Arthur accepted the Lord as his Savior when he was eight years old and re-dedicated his life to Jesus in 1980. Most recently they were affiliated with the Church of the Open Bible in Bloomfield and Eicher Mennonite Church in Wayland.

He is survived by his wife of 73 years, Carmen Schooley; five sons, Philip A. (Debbie) Schooley, A. Wayne (Laurie) Schooley, Ronald E. Schooley all of Bloomfield, William R. “Bill” (Danae) Schooley of Greensboro, North Carolina, David T. (Kathy) Schooley of Wayland; 13 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandsons. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.

Arthur was preceded in death by his parents; daughter-in-law, Ramona Schooley; grandson, John Schooley; and a grandson-in-law, Todd Milford.

Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 7, 2019 at the Church of the Open Bible in Bloomfield with Pastor Charles Courtney officiating. Burial will be at the IOOF Cemetery in Bloomfield. Visitation will begin at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday with family present to greet friends from 5-7:00 p.m. at the Wagler Funeral Home in Bloomfield. Memorials have been established to the Church of the Open Bible in Bloomfield, Eicher Mennonite Church in Wayland, and Hospice of Washington County.