Arnold "Tex" Eitemiller, 82, of Wagner

Funeral services are 2 PM, Monday, December 18, 2017 at the United Methodist Church in Wagner. Burial is in the Presbyterian Cemetery, rural Wagner, with military honors. Visitation will be Sunday from 2 to 5 PM at the Crosby-Jaeger Funeral Home in Wagner.

Arnold Dean "Tex" Eitemiller of Armour, SD passed away Friday, December 15, 2017 at the Wagner Good Samaritan Center in Wagner, SD.

Arnold was born on August 28, 1935 to Vene and Eleanor (Eggers) Eitemiller. He rode a horse to country school and drove his famous Plymouth station wagon until he graduated from high school in Armour.  Before the town of Armour had a school bus, Arnold's station wagon acted as the team bus as he competed in football and track events.

He became the key labor strength as the family farm grew into Eitemiller Farms Inc. where tractors and machinery always captured his interest.  Arnold was a good mechanic and could often be found working on old cars or tractors and machinery that needed repairs.
Arnold joined the National Guard and later enjoyed driving the Disabled American Veteran van taking veterans to Sioux Falls to doctor appointments. He took part in many local parades driving the Legion jeep.

He and his wife Shirley attended craft fairs throughout the region selling Shirley's hand sewn craft items. They were a fixture at Wagner Labor Day Arts in the Park for many years.

Arnold is survived by his wife of 34 years, Shirley (Sip) Eitemiller and her children and grandchildren; his ex-wife Gayleen (Willard) Eitemiller;  son Frank and wife Kim; grandchildren: Ben Eitemiller and wife Sarah and their children Jamie, Lane, and Tucker  and Cassie (Eitemiller) White and husband,Trent, and their children Kalia and Koda. He is also survived by his sister Lois and husband Marv Olson, sister Helen and husband Larry Biever, and brother David and wife Marie Eitemiller, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Arnold was preceded in death by his parents and his sister Fae (Eitemiller) Johnston.