Arnita Mae Searle

Arnita M. Searle, 94, of Mason City, IA died Monday, August 27, 2018, at Good Shepherd Health Center.

Memorial services will be held at 11:00AM on Wednesday, September 19, 2018, at the First Congregational United Church of Christ, 100 1st St. NE, with Pastor Chuck Kelsey officiating. Inurnment will take place in the First Congregational United Church of Christ Columbarium.

Memorials may be directed to the First Congregational United Church of Christ.

Arnita Mae Searle (Bruns) was born November 17, 1923 in Mason City to parents Herman and Mabel (Fister) Bruns.

After graduating from Mason City High School in 1941, she was a telephone operator with Pacific Bell in San Francisco, California.

She was united in marriage to Harlan J. Searle on November 28, 1942, at the First Congregational Church in San Francisco. They later moved back to Mason City, and she continued working as a telephone operator with U.S. West (formerly Northwestern Bell) until her retirement in 1981.

Arnita’s passions included spending time with her family and friends, and she will be lovingly remembered for organizing and hosting large family gatherings. She was an excellent seamstress, and took great joy in playing the piano, organ and cello, as well as crocheting afghans for all her grandchildren. She was a former Board member of the North Central Iowa Genealogical Society, Women's Fellowship at First Congregational Church, Telephone Pioneers, and her card club. Arnita also took joy in teaching piano lessons, accompanying MCHS instrumental students at State competitions, and occasionally playing the organ for the First Congregational Church Sunday services.

Arnita is survived by 6 children: Nancy Moon of Idaho Falls, ID, Pat Masters and husband Dr. Ron of Mason City, Dick Searle and wife Teri of Mason City, Alan Searle and wife Paulette of Mason City, Tom Searle of Mankato, MN, and Mary Searle of Phoenix, AZ; grandchildren: Sondra Waner and husband Greg, Brian Moon and wife Carol, Tara Meacham and husband Kelly, Jim DeLung and wife Mollie, Amy Anderson and special friend Ryan Graff, Renee Huffman and husband Dustin, Nicolette Dobson and husband Scott, Melissa Searle and special friend Ryan Larson, Brittany Searle, Michael Searle and wife Amber, Dillon; great-grandchildren: John, Logan, Chelsea, Courtney, Tristan, Maddison, Abbigail, Aubrie, Gavin, Maddox. Lauren, Amber, Marina, Ty, Autum, Summer, Braxton, Norrah, Rowan, and Quinn, great great-grandson, Mason, sister Margo Bramhall of Thornton, CO, and sister-in-law, Arlene Bruns, Eden Prairie, MN.

She was preceeded in death by her husband, Harlan, in 2015, grandson in infancy, brother, George “Dick” Bruns, brother-in-law, Willis “Bill” Bramhall.