Arturo “Art” Zambrano, 88, of Huron, passed away Tuesday, November, 22, 2022, at Avera McKennan Hospital at Sioux Falls.

Art’s memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, at the First United Methodist Church. Military honors will be conducted by the Huron Veterans Council.

His service will be livestreamed through the Kuhler Funeral Home website.
Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church.

Mask wearing would be appreciated by the family.

Memorials may be directed to the First United Methodist Church.

Arturo Zambrano was born April 7, 1934, to Antonio and Soledad (Pardes) Zambrano at Del Rio, Texas. Art’s mother passed away when he was six weeks old, so his mother’s parents stepped up to care for him.

When Art was eight years old, an aunt and uncle from Missouri planned to adopt him, before the adoption was completed the aunt passed away, so Art went back to his grandparents in Del Rio.

At age 11, he ran away from home. Art found work in the fields picking row crops for 25 cents an hour. A family unfamiliar to Art took him in for half of his earnings, telling him he would not be deported to Mexico, where Art had never been before. After some time, his oldest brother, Sam (who become his father figure), found Art and took him to his home at Los Angles, Calif.

When Art was 17, he left California and returned to his grandmother’s home in Del Rio. He yearned to see the world like his big brothers, so Art joined the United States Navy at age 18, where he remained for 23 years. He climbed up through the ranks to become a Chief Petty Officer. Most of Art’s duties were at sea on destroyers. Because Art was bi-lingual, he often served as an interrupter for his Captain. Art served in the Korean and Vietnam Wars and the Cuba crisis.

Once Art retired from the Navy, he was hired as a job agent for the State of California Employment Development Department; soon Art was promoted to a supervisory position. Art was ambitious and during his time in the service, he always held two jobs; so while working for the state he began his pursuit of higher education. During this time, he met Jeannine Parsons (Ree). They were married at the First United Methodist Church at El Cajon, Calif.

Art earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology in 1980; his Master Degree in Psychology 1987; and his Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology in 1994. Shortly after graduating, Art and Jeannine moved to Huron. Art worked for Community Counseling Center as a counselor, and then he became the Director of the Bradford Leary Center for 10 years. Upon retiring, Art took a position with the Catholic Family Counseling Services for 3 years. Lastly, to fulfill his dream of helping others, Arts opened a private practice in Huron.

Art was a hardworking, modest, gentle and spiritual man. He would never seek recognition in his areas of serving with the Navy or his work as a psychologist. He supported his family and his community. For enjoyment he liked to sail, read, fish, travel, and attend cultural events. He was an active member of the First United Methodist Church, Huron Noon Lions, lifetime VFW member, Gideon’s International and Alcoholics Anonymous.

Art was preceded in death by his parents, Antonio and Soledad; two brothers, Joe and Hank; and twin half-brothers, Danny and Able.

Grateful for having shared his life are his wife of 43 years, Jeannine of Huron; his children, Arthur Michael (Beth) Zambrano of Carson City, Nev., Patricia (Mark) Swinford of San Diego, Calif., Harry (Marcela) Zambrano of Portsmouth, R.I., John James (Anna) Zambrano of Portsmouth, R.I., Ellen Zambrano of Boynton, Fla,. and Charmaine Ree of Huron; seven grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

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