Arlene Sampson, 97, of Ankeny, passed away on Wednesday, July 2, 2025 in the comfort of her home. A memorial service for Arlene will be held at a later date.

Arlene was the oldest of the Erickson kids born to Arch and Vernita Erickson. Her brothers, Dick, Willard, Alan and Owen were the joy of her life growing up in Roland, Iowa.

She met Loren in the third grade at Bergen Lutheran church. As 14-year-olds they went on their first date driving (yes, driving) to Story City to see the movie, Pride Of The Yankees, The Lou Gehrig Story. The rest is history. Arlene was an accomplished musician with the saxophone while Loren starred in basketball and baseball. After Loren’s all-expense paid cruise with the Army to Japan, he returned and they married. Arlene graduated from cosmetology school and had many years working with ladies hairstyles.

From that 70-year union came two daughters, Linda (Jeff) Susic, Wendy (Art) Cioni and son, Ron (Luann) Sampson. In 1956 Loren and Arlene moved from the comforts of Roland to the seemingly even smaller community of Ankeny, population about 1,200. Arlene was a homemaker and also helped with some bookkeeping duties when Loren and Ron owned the local paper.

Arlene had four grandchildren: Benj, Jonathan, Zach and Holly. She also had seven great grandchildren: Trevi, Baron, Camden, Tyler, Levi, Dayla and Colton.

Arlene and Loren were longtime members of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Ankeny. They were also very proud to tell folks that their home on Des Moines Street was the most northern and western home in Ankeny when it was built in 1956 and where she still lived.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Ankeny Historical Society. A deep appreciation for everyone’s visits, care and concern and the gifts of banana nut bread and Kringla.