- Date Of Birth: December 25, 1952
- Date Of Death: July 23, 2020
- State: Colorado
On Thursday, July 23, Gerald (“Jerry”) Keith Arnold, passed away at the age of 67 from a heart attack suffered at his office. Jerry was born December 25, 1952 to Gerald A. and Patricia Arnold in Stevens Point, WI. The Arnolds lived in Little Rock and then moved to Bethany, OK where Jerry entered high school.
A great football player, Jerry was the first athlete at Putnam City West High School to receive All State recognition. He also was on the basketball, wrestling and track teams.
Jerry received a scholarship to play for the Oklahoma University Sooners where he excelled as an offensive lineman. He received “Player of the Game” honors and was named to the All Big 8 Conference as a result of playing on the 1974 national championship Sooner team coached by Barry Switzer. The Denver Broncos drafted Jerry and released him prior to the season.
Jerry was also an avid sportsman who loved to hunt and fish, especially with his dad and son. He enjoyed reading and, because he was brilliant, loved watching Jeopardy. He was a career account manager and salesman working for Playtex and, more recently, American Senior Benefits.
Jerry was preceded in death by his parents and is survived by his wife, Mimi Papantonio Arnold; sisters, Sharon Shopinski (Randy), Christine Forrest (John) and Patricia Jackson (Gary); son, Gerald “Jerry” Arnold (Kim); and grandchildren, Addison and Hudson. Also, his stepchildren; Glen Papantonio (Amanda), Greg Papantonio (Amy), Keith Papantonio (Jill) and Brian Papantonio.
Mimi loved Jerry dearly and he adored her. Theirs was a perfect pairing. His family knew him as a loving husband, father and granddad who they will always cherish. Jerry’s teammates, friends and associates say he was a “good,” “wonderful” man and a “caring” guy. He was known for his wit, kindness and conservative perspectives.
