Richard Dean "Rick" Arbuckle, 72, passed away peacefully at his home in Santa Ana, California, after a nearly-three-year battle with throat cancer. He was born at the Greene County Hospital in Jefferson, Iowa on April 9, 1951, to Richard "Dean" and Anna (Fragos) Arbuckle.
Rick was educated in Jefferson, graduating from Jefferson Community High School in May 1969, in a class of 130 classmates. He was an honor student, talented tenor saxophonist in band and jazz band in which he made Iowa All State. He was in Future Teachers of America (President), French Club, Debate Team, drama performances and Student Council (President of his freshman class). Rick was a founding member of the band, Elm Street Grocery, with schoolmates, that was inducted into the Iowa Music Hall of Fame in 2021.
He attended Drake University, graduating in 1973. He taught at Johnston, Iowa, then returned to Drake to study broadcast journalism. He worked at KCCI-TV and played in Des Moines Big Band, the Echoes V, Antelon, Iowa State Fair shows with celebrity Hanry Mancini, before heading to California to further his love and talent in music. There he did odd jobs until getting into film work. He became the dialogue editor on Rugrats, The Wild Thornberrys and As Told by Ginger. Meanwhile, he continued playing music: pop, reggae, R & B, rockabilly and jazz. He recorded for TV and films such as Lost at Sea, Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man. He played in the group, Zen Dadio. One song from his cd, Now and Zen, is in the film, American Beauty. His brother, Steve, who plays percussion, is on that recording.
Rick then attended Vanguard University to work on his master's in education. He continued with jobs such as at Disneyland, and still wrote and performed music.
He was married to Janet in 2003.
Rick's parents, Dean and Anna Arbuckle, preceded him in death. He is survived by two brothers, Craig and Steve; his wife and two children.
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Friends and family members gathered to celebrate the life of Richard ("Rick") Dean Arbuckle, Jr. on March 16 at the First Presbyterian Church in Orange, California. The celebration included a jazz quintet performing many of Rick's compositions, a scrapbook craft table, family photo albums, photo booth and luncheon.
Rick grew up in Jefferson, Iowa, the second child of Dean and Ann Arbuckle, younger brother to Craig and older brother to Steve. Rick's life-long passion, music, arose from the tutelage of band directors, Robin Snyder and Jack Oatts. The last band he helped form before high school graduation, the soulful rhythm and blues band, Elm Street Grocery, was inducted into the Iowa Rock 'N Roll Hall of Fame in 2021.
While studying music education and woodwind performance at Drake University and for six years following graduation, Rick played in several bands, including Echoes V + Brass, the Black & Blue Band and Antelon. He performed in jazz ensembles at the Iowa State Fair.
In 1979, Rick moved to Los Angeles where he performed with Phast Phreddie & Thee Precisions, Spatz, and other bands before starting the band Zen Dadio. The latter band recorded five albums. A portion of a composition from the Now and Zen album entitled "Tenderfoot" played in the academy award winning movie American Beauty. He also worked at the production studio Klasky Csupo, editing sound for the era-defining animated children's shows and movies including Rugrats and Edith Ann: A Few Pieces of the Puzzle.
Growing tired of the big city, Rick moved to the small California town of Lake Isabella in 2002 to settle down and run an antique store. Here he met and then married Janet. They then settled in Orange County, California for the next 20 years. Rick turned his musical focus to playing and creating worship music, recording and self-publishing two EPs (Sound Out and Crux of Praise) and adding vocals to a previously recorded jazz album now entitled Resurrected.
Rick and Janet foster parented three nieces over different periods of time, then created a permanent family by adopting two girls, Amia and Evelyn in 2021. After a 2 1/2-year struggle with throat cancer, Rick passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his family and beloved melodies, leaving behind a legacy of love and music that will endure for generations to come.
http://beeherald.com/obituaries/richard-rick-dean-arbuckle-jr
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U.S., Index to Public Records, 1994-2019
Date: 2016-2020 - Address: 1517 W Borchard Ave; Santa Ana, CA 92704
Date: 2015-2017 - Address: 1206 N Hastings St.; Santa Ana, CA 92703
Date: 2004-2005 - Address: 377 W Wilson St Apt 6; Costa Mesa, CA 92627
Date: 2001-2005 - Address: 6749 Wofford Blvd; Wofford Heights, CA 93285
Richard Dean "Rick" Arbuckle, 72, passed away peacefully at his home in Santa Ana, California, after a nearly-three-year battle with throat cancer. He was born at the Greene County Hospital in Jefferson, Iowa on April 9, 1951, to Richard "Dean" and Anna (Fragos) Arbuckle.
Rick was educated in Jefferson, graduating from Jefferson Community High School in May 1969, in a class of 130 classmates. He was an honor student, talented tenor saxophonist in band and jazz band in which he made Iowa All State. He was in Future Teachers of America (President), French Club, Debate Team, drama performances and Student Council (President of his freshman class). Rick was a founding member of the band, Elm Street Grocery, with schoolmates, that was inducted into the Iowa Music Hall of Fame in 2021.
He attended Drake University, graduating in 1973. He taught at Johnston, Iowa, then returned to Drake to study broadcast journalism. He worked at KCCI-TV and played in Des Moines Big Band, the Echoes V, Antelon, Iowa State Fair shows with celebrity Hanry Mancini, before heading to California to further his love and talent in music. There he did odd jobs until getting into film work. He became the dialogue editor on Rugrats, The Wild Thornberrys and As Told by Ginger. Meanwhile, he continued playing music: pop, reggae, R & B, rockabilly and jazz. He recorded for TV and films such as Lost at Sea, Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man. He played in the group, Zen Dadio. One song from his cd, Now and Zen, is in the film, American Beauty. His brother, Steve, who plays percussion, is on that recording.
Rick then attended Vanguard University to work on his master's in education. He continued with jobs such as at Disneyland, and still wrote and performed music.
He was married to Janet in 2003.
Rick's parents, Dean and Anna Arbuckle, preceded him in death. He is survived by two brothers, Craig and Steve; his wife and two children.
________________________________
Friends and family members gathered to celebrate the life of Richard ("Rick") Dean Arbuckle, Jr. on March 16 at the First Presbyterian Church in Orange, California. The celebration included a jazz quintet performing many of Rick's compositions, a scrapbook craft table, family photo albums, photo booth and luncheon.
Rick grew up in Jefferson, Iowa, the second child of Dean and Ann Arbuckle, younger brother to Craig and older brother to Steve. Rick's life-long passion, music, arose from the tutelage of band directors, Robin Snyder and Jack Oatts. The last band he helped form before high school graduation, the soulful rhythm and blues band, Elm Street Grocery, was inducted into the Iowa Rock 'N Roll Hall of Fame in 2021.
While studying music education and woodwind performance at Drake University and for six years following graduation, Rick played in several bands, including Echoes V + Brass, the Black & Blue Band and Antelon. He performed in jazz ensembles at the Iowa State Fair.
In 1979, Rick moved to Los Angeles where he performed with Phast Phreddie & Thee Precisions, Spatz, and other bands before starting the band Zen Dadio. The latter band recorded five albums. A portion of a composition from the Now and Zen album entitled "Tenderfoot" played in the academy award winning movie American Beauty. He also worked at the production studio Klasky Csupo, editing sound for the era-defining animated children's shows and movies including Rugrats and Edith Ann: A Few Pieces of the Puzzle.
Growing tired of the big city, Rick moved to the small California town of Lake Isabella in 2002 to settle down and run an antique store. Here he met and then married Janet. They then settled in Orange County, California for the next 20 years. Rick turned his musical focus to playing and creating worship music, recording and self-publishing two EPs (Sound Out and Crux of Praise) and adding vocals to a previously recorded jazz album now entitled Resurrected.
Rick and Janet foster parented three nieces over different periods of time, then created a permanent family by adopting two girls, Amia and Evelyn in 2021. After a 2 1/2-year struggle with throat cancer, Rick passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his family and beloved melodies, leaving behind a legacy of love and music that will endure for generations to come.
http://beeherald.com/obituaries/richard-rick-dean-arbuckle-jr
________________________________
U.S., Index to Public Records, 1994-2019
Date: 2016-2020 - Address: 1517 W Borchard Ave; Santa Ana, CA 92704
Date: 2015-2017 - Address: 1206 N Hastings St.; Santa Ana, CA 92703
Date: 2004-2005 - Address: 377 W Wilson St Apt 6; Costa Mesa, CA 92627
Date: 2001-2005 - Address: 6749 Wofford Blvd; Wofford Heights, CA 93285
