Curtis Howard Archibald entered this life on January 8, 1949, in Norton, KS and left to enter his “Field of Dreams” on November 10, 2022, at Good Samaritan Hospital, Kearney, NE.
Arch was an avid baseball fan from a very young age. He played baseball in empty lots with his cousins and friends growing up in Norton and playing more seriously while his family lived in Westminster, Co. They moved back to Norton when he was in junior high. He participated in football, basketball, and track, considered those the only reason to attend high school. Oh, and the girls, of course. He graduated in 1967.
Arch enlisted in the United States Marine Corps after a year at Fort Hays State. He was sent to Vietnam in 1968 where he was a radio operator for his company. He was injured by shrapnel after being in the country for 1 ½ months and sent to Guam via hospital ship. Curt liked to say he was so good at his job they sent him back to Vietnam after his recovery. He mustered out of the service in 1970. He believed everything that came after in his life was "gravy" since he survived. Arch returned to Fort Hays State for another year before returning to Norton to help with the family distributing business.
Arch and Norma Bruggeman were married in October 1974. He loved his role as husband, best friend and lover to his wife. He greeted his children, Rayeann and Mike with much love and enthusiasm and became “Dad”. He coached both of their ball teams, sometimes running from one field to the next. He welcomed his three grandsons with wonder and delight, Jake, Max, and Eli, and became “Poppy” in his new role.
Arch loved his life and when someone would ask him how he was, he would always answer with "fantastic". Sadly, his last few years were dampened by many health issues, but he never lost his sense of humor. He was extremely good at telling bad jokes.
Arch is preceded in death by his parents, Don and Mary Lue Archibald; parents-in-law, Ambrose and Virginia Bruggeman; his grandparents; brothers-in-law Robert Machen and Kirk Allred. He is survived by his wife, Norma of the home; children, Rayeann (Mike) of Ankeny, IA and Michael (Tiffany) of Olathe, KS; grandsons, Jake (Andia) of Greenwood, MO, Maxwell and Elijah of Olathe, KS; four sisters, Peggy Machen of Phoenix, AZ, Dona (Tom) Purcell, Phoenix, AZ, Becky (Dick) Knackendoffel, Grand Junction, CO, and Marianne (Gregg) Wicker, Norton, KS (He liked to tell people he had four sisters and each one had a brother); brothers-in-law, David (Roxie) Bruggeman, Roseland, NE, Paul (Karla) Bruggeman, Rexford, KS, and Chuck (Sheila) Cart, Salina, KS; numerous nephews, nieces, and cousins; his friend and partner in crime (for many years), Richard Miller, and an “adopted” son, Jake Ward.
A Celebration of Life will be held 9:00 am Saturday, December 10, 2022, at the funeral home. Inurnment will follow at the Kansas Veterans’ Cemetery at WaKeeney. A visitation will be from 6-8:00 pm Friday, December 9, 2022, at the Norton American Legion Post 63.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Norton American Legion Baseball team or the Norton County Honor Hunt. Condolences may be left at www.plumergobber.com