Arthur Ergenbright

Arthur “Archie” Ergenbright, 75, of Newton, died Thursday, June 1, 2017, at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines. A funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Monday, June 5 at the Newton High School Gymnasium. The family will greet friends from 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday, June 4 at the Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Newton High School Booster Club, Knoxville Racing Charitable Organization or Newton YSF (Youth Sports Foundation) may be left at the funeral home or the school the day of the service.

Archie, the son of Edwin and Gladys (Smool) Ergenbright, was born Nov. 10, 1941, in Newton. He graduated from Newton High School in 1959. On March 3, 1961, Archie was united in marriage with Mary Janet Peck at the Congregational Church in Newton. They were blessed with five children. Archie worked as the service manager at Axtell Ford and Joel Johnson Motor Car Company, before owning and operating Archie’s Auto for 20 years, retiring in 2005. In 2008, with his love of helping children, he began working as a para-pro at the Newton High School in the credit recovery program.

Archie was very active in both Newton and the racing community. He began his racing career, racing go-carts in 1960, before graduating to stock cars in 1966. After winning the Newton Speedway championship he began racing in what is now the 360 sprint class at the Knoxville Raceway. His final race was in September of 1995, after that he returned to Knoxville as a car owner. Archie was named Knoxville Sportsman of the Year in 1988, and was inducted into the Knoxville Raceway Hall of Fame in 2006. Archie and Mary Janet also owned and operated Ergenbright Sports Apparel. The Ergenbrights and their apparel trailer greeted people coming into the Knoxville Raceway for many years.

In Newton, Archie enjoyed coaching youth sports beginning with football in 1974, and then softball for many years. He also was an avid Newton wrestling fan and was the announcer at the Newton wrestling meets. Along with his son, Ed, Archie organized and ran the YSF football league. Archie also loved the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Those left to honor Archie’s memory are his wife, Mary Janet Ergenbright of Newton; children, Janet (Randy) Clausen of St. Charles, Ill., Ed (Colette) Ergenbright of Newton, Lori (Brant) Gilmore of New Providence, Mindy (Curt) Roorda of Sully and Amy (Bob) Antle of Newton; grandchildren, Megan Clausen, Jenna (Tim) Miller, Emily Ergenbright, Allison Ergenbright and Trevor Ergenbright, Bo Eggers, Chase Eggers, Stevi Eggers, Taylor Hilsabeck and Cole Gilmore, Colten Roorda and Clayton Roorda, Dusti Antle, Jarrett Antle and Shane (Ashley) Jansen; a great-granddaughter on the way; his siblings, Pat (Sam) Hutchinson of Paducah, Ky., Billie (Mike) Moomaw of Newton, Ed (Diane) Ergenbright of Newton and Terry Ergenbright of Des Moines; and his many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; two grandchildren, Thor and Courtney; two sisters, Myra Ross and Peggy Boyd; a brother, Walter, in infancy; and a nephew, Rod Ergenbright.