Una M. Arnbal, 81, of Ames, Iowa, passed away Saturday, Feb. 23, at Mary Greeley Medical Center.

Una was born on April 22, 1926, in Hollandale, one of nine children born to Anne (Ane) Knudsen Nielsen and Emmanuel K. A. Nielsen. Her parents were born in Denmark and immigrated to the United States prior to World War I &045; they met on a ship bound for America. Over the years, Una and her family have kept close ties to their Danish cousins who live on the Jutland Peninsula. Una married Carl Anton Arnbal on Aug. 31, 1946, with lasting love and devotion.

Una was full of elegance, grace, charm, and joy of life. Family was the foundation of her life, beginning with her childhood in southern Minnesota and her poignant memories of a close-knit family growing up on a farm near Albert Lea during the depression and war years. Her family was generous and sharing, and her parents would often bring into their home the less fortunate, even whole families, for long periods of time. Una grew to love a former neighbor boy, Carl, a student at the University of Minnesota, and they were married following his college graduation. After living in Manhattan, Kan., where Carl did his graduate work at Kansas State University, they ultimately settled in Ames in 1953. They raised three daughters in Ames and have remained community residents ever since. Outside of her devotion to her family, Una loved to collect antiques of all kinds, and Carl and she were partners in their Woodland Antiques business for three decades. Una avidly followed politics throughout her life. Carl and she enjoyed rooting passionately for Iowa State women&8217;s basketball and have long held season tickets in Hilton&8217;s Section 134. Una was a member of the Memorial Lutheran Church.

Una was preceded in death by her parents; her sister Mona Johnson; four brothers, Adolph, Earl, Reginald, and Arnold (Barney); son-in-law Larry Gholson; and half-brother Jens Peter Nielsen.

Una is survived by her beloved husband, Carl; three daughters, Judith (Thomas) Brayton, Olivia Arnbal Madison (Gregory Palermo), and Carla Gholson; two sisters, Betty Porter and Laura Mercanti; brother George (Florence) Nielsen; and many cousins, including her Danish cousins, Poul Erik (Ruth) Christensen and Anna Knudsen Hansen. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Christopher (Kimberley) Palermo; and Mark Palermo (Kirsten Hartwig) and one great grandchild Sebastian Palermo.

Visitation will be from 4 to 5 p.m. Thursday and memorial service at 5 p.m. that day at the Adams Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 502 Douglas Ave., Ames, Iowa.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Iowa State University&8217;s Veterinary Companion Animal Fund in recognition of her love for her many schnauzers over the years, or to the American Heart Association.