Irene Cecilia Arnold, born April 13, 1925, in Eddyville, Nebraska, passed away in Cheyenne, Wyoming on January 31, 2025, two and a half months shy of 100 years of age. Irene was born of Mary Joanna Cunningham (McDonnell) and William Owen Cunningham and grew up in Eddyville and Wood River, Nebraska before completing high school in Brady, Nebraska.

Her siblings included Fred, Leo, Martin, Gerald and William. After taking classes at Kearney State College, Irene taught grade school in Sumner, Nebraska where she married her husband Darrell Arnold, Sr. She and her husband later moved to David City, then North Platte. Irene and her husband had ten children: Paula, Fred, Dennis, Marilyn, Jim, Matt, LeAnne, Monica, Darrell and Dolores (Lori), all of whom attended North Platte schools. In her 80s Irene moved from North Platte to Caldwell, Idaho to be near her daughter, Monica, then to Cheyenne, where she lived with her daughter Dolores (Lori). Irene was from a family of musicians, having grown up attending barn yard dances in Eddyville where her brothers played old time music. She was an enthusiastic singer and many years a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church choir. Irene was also a devout Catholic. She took great joy in her many children and her over 40 grandchildren, great and great great grandchildren. Irene was a wonderful storyteller, who had an infectious laugh.