Arnold R. Port

ARNOLD R. PORT

Cedar Rapids

Arnold R. Port, 97, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021, at Northbrook Manor Care Center. Funeral Services will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 3, 2022, at Cedar Memorial Chapel of Memories. Interment with military honors will follow at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be held from noon to 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 3 at Cedar Memorial Chapel of Memories.

Arnold grew up in Springville, Iowa, and graduated from Springville High School. In 1943, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served through the end of World War II in the Army Air Corps as a bombardier and navigator.

He left the Corps in 1945 and returned to Cedar Rapids. He was hired by Quaker Oats, where he met his wife, Mary (Kelsey) Port. In 1951, he was recalled to active duty in the Air Force, which he choose, to make his lifetime career. His military career covered World War II, the Korean War, and Vietnam. He logged almost 5,000 hours of flight time in B-36 and B-47 bombers.

His final assignment before retirement involved serving in Air Intelligence, programming B-52 bomber missions over the South Pacific.

He later worked as security guard at K Mart. Arnie also took classes at Kirkwood Community College and later worked at Banks of Iowa Computer Service.

Arnie became interested in baseball while attending games in old Veterans Memorial Stadium. He was a long-time season ticket holder and was a faithful "fan in the stands." Arnie was a square dance caller. He also collected Beer Cans. Every year he attended Beer Can Conventions and Air Force Reunions. Arnie visited all fifty states and all of the continents except Antarctica.

Survivors include his children, Rodney A. Port (Renate) of Lowden, Iowa, and Anniejo (Thomas) Beardsley of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; his grandchildren, Tamara (Matt Bliss) Beardsley of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Casey Port of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Tracy Matthiessen of Marion, Iowa, Andrew (Charity) Beardsley of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Ranelle Schroeder of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; his great-grandchildren, Corey (Dee Dulin) Scott, Joshua Thomas, David Bliss, Kylee-Ann Thomas, John Dostal Jr., Dalton Vick, Joshua Bliss, Zachary Bliss, Aydan Beardsley, Piper Beardsley, Jackson Schroeder and Autumn Beardsley; great-great-granddaughter, River Scott.

He was preceded in death by his parents, DeVer and Frida Port; wife, Mary; and sister, Margaret Brown.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Muscular Dystrophy Association or Mercy Hospice in memory of Arnold.