To Celebrate a Life of Love: Michael Stanley Arch
August 6, 1958 – February 20, 2018
Mike Arch passed away on February 20, 2018. He was born on August 6, 1958 in Wiesbaden, Germany and traveled many places as the son of an Air Force active duty member before landing in San Antonio, TX when he was 12. He is survived by his wife Stephanie, parents Charles and Jutta Arch, brother Tom Arch, son Matthew Leonard Arch, daughter Chelsea Ann and her fiancé Jacob Briody, Mother-in-law Rita Recker, Sister-in-law Rani Janelle Zapata and her husband Frank Zapata and nephews Christopher Arch and Chad Arch and their families.
How do you sum up a man’s life? There are many people who touch our lives in this world and on rare occasions comes one that touches our hearts. Mike touched our hearts. Now the answer becomes simple – we just add up what he left behind. Parents he cared about, loved, and showered with kindness; Parents proud to call him son. A wife he loved and cherished above all else; a wife that will continue to love him for the rest of her days. Kids he loved and adored and raised to know the value of respect and kindness; Kids that will live up to the legacy he leaves behind. A brother he loved and knew he could always count on. Treasured friends he would greet with hugs and share stories and laughter with, especially at the many parties he hosted where friends and family became one. Friends that will miss him dearly and continue to support his family. Co-workers and business associates with whom he made lasting relationships; Colleagues that respected him and will forever value those relationships. He loved his many dogs over the course of his lifetime; especially his chocolate lab Buddy. He was a simple man of principle who felt at ease with the world around him especially the outdoors where he enjoyed hunting and fishing. He was a man of faith, God played a huge role in his life and he felt closest to Him in the quiet moments in the woods where the solitude often heard his prayers. He will be missed and always in our hearts.
A rosary will be held at St. Francis of Assisi on Saturday, March 3 at 10:00 am followed by a funeral Mass at 10:30 am. A reception and time to visit with the family and celebrate Mike’s life will follow in St. Francis’ JP II Room on the second floor of the San Damiano Building immediately following this funeral Mass. The burial will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to the San Antonio Humane Society or another animal rescue charity of their choice. Mike’s family is most grateful for the loving care, compassion, and comfort provided by Dr. Kimberly Heller, Dr. Robert Schnitzler and by the ICU intensivists, nurses and support staff at the Methodist Hospital.