Donald "Don" Robert Arkell

DONALD ROBERT ARKELL December 15, 1941 - June 30, 2022 Donald Robert Arkell, an Oregon resident for 43 years, died peacefully on Thursday, June 30 from Alzheimer's Disease. He passed away at Countryside Living Memory in Redmond with his wife, Laurie, and his brother, David, at his side. Don was a cherished husband, companionable brother, loving uncle, protector of the environment, skilled executive, dedicated volunteer, consummate horseman, seasoned fly fisherman, happy hiker and outdoorsman, patient dog trainer, pretty good duck hunter, and kind friend. He will be greatly missed by all who loved him. Don was born to Jim and Jean Arkell in Grants Pass, Oregon on December 15, 1941. He was the oldest of three sons. Don graduated from Basic High School in Henderson, Nevada and went on to University of Nevada, where he participated in ROTC and earned a degree in Zoology. This laid the foundation for a future career of service to protect air quality. Don served as an officer in the Army Artillery from 1964 - 1966, including a year in Vietnam. Upon his return from Vietnam, he settled in Las Vegas and worked for the Clark County Health Department as Director of the Air Pollution Control Division. In 1979 he moved to Eugene, Oregon and served as the Director of the Lane Regional Air Pollution Authority. He married Laurie Power in 1982. They lived in Creswell, Oregon for 28 years, restoring a decrepit farmhouse, competing in endurance horse races with their Morgans, raising hay, gardening, and housing numerous stray dogs and cats. They eventually downsized and moved to Bend in 2012 with just one dog! Don and Laurie loved to travel abroad, including Rotary Friendship exchange visits to England, Scotland, Romania and Moldova. Don's life was one of service - protecting the environment, serving as a pro bono director of the Springfield/Eugene Habitat for Humanity, serving as interim director of the Western States Air Resources Council, volunteering for Rotary's World Community Service projects in rural Mexico, and serving on the Board of Directors of Project Amigo, an education focused nonprofit in Colima, Mexico. Don is survived by his wife Laurie, brother David (Betty), sister-in-law Casey (Don), brother-in-law Mike (Marty), niece Elizabeth (Scott), nephews Peter (Alia), Matthew (Stephanie), and Michael (Jessica), and two grandnephews, Rhys and Jack, and grandniece, Lexie. A huge thank you to Countryside Living Memory Care and Partners in Care for their competent and compassionate end of life care for Don. And a special thank you to the Mt. Bachelor Rotary Club, especially Andy Jordan and Suzanne Johannsen, for their faithful support. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Partners in Care, Nativity Lutheran Church, and Rotary Foundation. Don's celebration of life will be held on July 23, 2022 at 1 PM at Nativity Lutheran Church, 60850 Brosterhaus Road, Bend, Oregon. Reception to follow. The service will be live streamed and recorded. (facebooknativityinbend).

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Donald "Don" Robert Arkell

December 15, 1941 - June 30, 2022