On January 1, 2023, at the age of 79, Donna Jean (Moorhead) Arnett
peacefully passed into heaven while comforted by her family at Linden
Court in North Platte, NE. She was diagnosed with Parkinson's and
Dementia approximately 10 years ago and never let her illnesses define her.
Donna was born to Olga and Homer Moorhead in North Platte on November 27, 1943. She grew up on a farm south of Hershey and attended Hershey Public School. Donna graduated as class Valedictorian in 1962, then attended Kearney State College.
On August 21, 1964, Donna was united in marriage to Charles William
"Bill" Arnett at the Hershey Methodist Church. They moved to California
where Donna attended Sonoma State College. After graduating with honors in 1969, they returned to Nebraska to be near family.
They settled in Wallace where Donna established and taught a K-12 Art
Program for 35 years. Her students excelled in many local and statewide
art contests and Donna received the outstanding Aviation Art Teacher
Award and was honored with Art Educator of the Year in 2007.
Donna was a dedicated and loving Christian, active in the Wallace
Methodist Church and later First United Methodist Church in North
Platte. She was also a member of P.E.O., N.P. China Painters, and a
Charter Member of the Wallace Community Lions Club. She volunteered to help her community and church in any way possible.
Wallace students remember Donna as a kind, gentle, caring, professional
teacher who helped them develop their talents and self-esteem. Her
husband, children and grandchildren, along with other family and
friends, will miss her kind, giving, caring spirit. She will be
remembered for her helping hand, respect of others, and her love of
family, friends, her students, and the Class of 1962.
Donna was preceded in death by her parents, Olga and Homer Moorhead;
infant sister, Darlene; in-laws, Charles and Betty Arnett; and
brother-in-law, Jerry Ollo.
Donna is survived by her husband of 58 years, Bill; their children, Jon
(Sherri) Arnett of Bennington and Jennifer (Chad) Monie of North Platte;
her brothers, Billy (Jackie) Moorhead and Jack (Peggy) Moorhead of
Hershey; grandchildren, Jake, Ryan, Sam and Cade Arnett, Josh and Anna
Monie; brothers and sisters-in-law, Alan (Georgena) Arnett of Loveland,
CO, Ann Ollo of Houston, TX, and Robert (Kathy) Arnett of Hershey; and
many other family.
Services will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, January 6, 2023, at First
United Methodist Church with Pastors Michael Evans and Shanon Williams officiating. Burial will follow in the North Platte Cemetery.
Visitation is 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday at Odean Colonial Chapel at C &
Sycamore, which is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be shared at odeanchapel.com. In lieu of flowers memorials are to Wallace Community Lions Club.