of Bella Vista, AR

February 24, 1930 - December 13, 2024

Arthur Albert Dercksen, 94, of Bella Vista passed away Friday, December 13, 2024. He was born February 24, 1930 in Newark, New Jersey to Albert and Martha Hilda (Banhart) Dercksen who immigrated from Europe in 1922.

Arthur had the privilege of having his talents recognized at an early age and awarded a full scholarship to Music Education Studios (MES) in New York City as a prodigy. His life up through the seventh grade was immersed in the Fine Arts. At age eight he was presented his first solo piano recital at the National Arts Club. He was also a prize finalist for eight years with the Note Book Contest of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra Society; the first two years being special awards as he was below the entry age. He was also a violinist in an active youth ensemble.

This early training was to be the foundation for the rest of his education and musical life. A friend from the MES asked him to play for his wedding and so started his organ training. This, in turn, led to a full scholarship at Riverdale Country School (RCS) for Boys in New York as the ''School Pianist''. One of the Music Masters at RCS went on to be the Choral Director at Grinnell College and so plans were made for Arthur to work his way through to a BA degree in Organ and Music Education. He learned to become a professional accompanist, organist and church choral director while studying there.

Arthur served three years in the US Army during the Korean War, earning rank of SP3 as a bandsman, organist, string bassist and choral director. His tour of duty included Goppingen, Germany. After an honorable discharge he returned to studies at the Hochschule fuer Musik at Stuttgart, Germany. He pursued independent studies on organ, piano accompanying, harpsichord and conducting. This is where he met his future wife, Nell. She was already a vocal scholarship student there and Arthur became her accompanist.

Arthur and Nell were married August 14th, 1960 at First Presbyterian Church in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. The couple set up home at an apartment in Rockville Centre, Long Island while Arthur pursued a MA degree at Teachers' College, Columbia University. They moved to a house in Belmore, Long Island and welcomed Elizabeth Elise to the family on January 24, 1966. Arthur had a music teaching position in the Valley Stream School System at North Jr-Sr High School.

After a Sabbatical leave Arthur accepted a position as Director of a High School touring choir at Seaford, Long Island. He moved his expanding family to Massapequa, Long Island just in time for Deborah Nell to arrive on January 28th, 1969. Arthur formed the musical lives of many students as Choir Director, General Music Theory and Orchestra Director at Seaford High, with choir exchanges in the states and also to Europe. At the same time, he was Church Choir Director and organist at Lutheran Church of Epiphany, Hempstead, Long Island.

He and Nell were active in the opera scene on Long Island and the Greater New York Metropolitan area. They founded the Atlantic Music Theater, performing 'Opera in the round' in community settings. In 1985 he took full retirement from teaching and the opera company.

Arthur and Nell moved to Clarksville, Arkansas in 1989. He taught Orchestra at Arkansas Tech and was organist-choir director in several churches in the area until 1996. He was active in the Barbershop Harmony Society of America, singing and Directing in three different choruses. He was active in the Lions Club in Clarksville, Arkansas receiving many awards of service. He was a member of the American Legion in Clarksville, Arkansas.

Arthur and Nell celebrated Sixty-six years of Holy Matrimony when Nell passed away due to a short battle with Parkinson's syndrome. After the passing of his beloved Nell, Arthur didn't have his lifelong companion; life was just not the same. In April 2024, he moved to Bella Vista, Arkansas to be near some close friends. Unfortunately due to infirmities of three bouts of pneumonia and an Acute Myeloid Leukemia diagnosis, he became bedridden and was not able to continue the active life he had always enjoyed. Arthur peacefully passed away on Friday, December 13th, 2024.

Arthur was very proud of his two daughters, Elizabeth and Deborah and was a loving grandfather to Alexa Nell Overton and Bryan Edward Overton (Emily) and great-grandfather to Elliot Edward and Charlie Elise. His family meant everything to him. He is also survived by his sister, Joyce Crawford (Kenneth, deceased) of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and her daughters, Celeste Crawford and Dawn Sawyer (John), great-nephew Jacob and great-niece Kayden.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Martha; his beloved wife, Nell and brother-in-law, Kenneth Crawford.

A Celebration of Life prayer and song service will be held Friday, December 20th, 2024 at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Altus, Arkansas at 11:00AM.

Military Honors and interment will be held at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Ft. Smith, Arkansas on Friday, December 27, 2024 at 2:00PM.

Obituary Provided By:
Roller-Cox Funeral Home
Rogers & Poplar Streets
Clarksville, AR  72830
www.rollerfuneralhomes.com