John Michael Arledge, Sr.
1945-2020
John Michael Arledge, Sr. was born on August 24, 1945 as the seventh of eight children to Howard and Ophelia Arledge. He graduated from Mt. St. Mary High School in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He was an overall great athlete, and played basketball in high school and in college at St Gregory’s in Shawnee, Oklahoma.
John married Sandy Ruzicka on June 25, 1966 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He graduated from Oklahoma City University with an accounting degree. He worked for Moak, Hunsaker, Rouse, Thomas and Company until starting his own accounting practice (Arledge and Associates) in Edmond, OK in 1983.
John and Sandy had four children together in their 53 years of marriage. John Jr. married to Robin, Chris married to Keri, Kevin married to Carrie Jane, and Marc married to Kathleen. John and Sandy have 12 grandchildren – Drew, Morgan, Samantha, Trey, Vivian, Stormy, Kiernan, Holden, Brenna, Bryndan, Blakely, and Ellie.
John loved Jesus and was an amazing father, grandfather, brother, and uncle. He especially liked hosting groups of friends and family in their home and at the family’s 100 acre wood retreat where he really enjoyed spending time on the four-wheelers. John had a way of making people feel welcome and important. He loved working with young people and has helped to shape the lives and careers of many more people than he ever imagined. He loved traveling and especially enjoyed cruising the world with his wife, family and friends. He was an entrepreneur and especially liked real estate investments. Both early in adulthood and late in life, John got heavily involved in racing pigeons and had numerous “Bird of the Year” awards. Some of his hobbies and activities include golfing, snow skiing, loved to laugh, coaching soccer (Superior Coaching), Edmond Chamber of Commerce, Ambucs, and the early days of the Edmond Soccer Club. John was a faithful member at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Edmond, OK for 47 years, serving for years as a Eucharistic Minister and sponsoring numerous youth group trips
John passed from this earth peacefully in his sleep on March 30, 2020 in Edmond, OK after a lengthy battle with Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. John was preceded in death by his wife, Sandy and his father, Howard, and mom, Ophelia. He is survived by his four sons and 12 grandchildren, his siblings Jerry Arledge, Jo Askew, Bede Arledge, Jim Arledge, Juanita Rother, Judy Mrasek, and Jean Arledge, as well as the rest of the large Arledge and Ruzicka clan including 55 nieces and nephews.
Memorial services will be held post COVID-19 restrictions.
Funeral arrangements through Matthews Funeral Home in Edmond, OK. In lieu of gifts, donations can be made to the John and Sandy Arledge Memorial Accounting Scholarship, care of Citizen’s Bank (Attn: Sharon Arneson) at 1 East 1 St, Edmond, OK 73034.