Caledonia Argus

Posted: 11/8/02

Donald Orr

Donald Merle Orr, 78, of Winona, died on Wednesday, November 6, 2002, at his home after a long battle with cancer. Don was born on April 21, 1924 in Houston County, MN to Norman and Florence (Holiday) Orr. He was raised on the family farm in Mound Prairie Township and was baptized and confirmed in the Hokah Methodist Church. He entered the U.S. Navy on March 21, 1944. He was a Seaman First Class as a gunner on the U.S.S. West Virginia during WWII. He served in the South Pacific and was present in Tokyo Bay at the signing of the Peace Treaty. He was discharged on January 12, 1946.

He married Grace Reynolds. Then on March 1, 1950, he married Lorraine Palmquist Brown and they celebrated 52 years of marriage. He was formerly employed by Trane Company of La Crosse, WI; on the family farm; as a milkman for Marigold Dairy of Winona for 14 years; and for the City of Winona for 17 years, retiring in 1997. After retiring he worked part time as a carrier for Merchants Bank, Winona, for seven and one half years. He was a member of McKinley United Methodist Church, Winona and the VFW Neville-Lien Post #1287.

Don is survived by his wife Lorraine, Winona; six children: Sandy (Dave) Brown, La Crosse, Wayne (Jeanne) Brown, Denver, CO, Dennis Brown, Yuma, AZ, Nancy Frankum, Winona, Sharon (Peter) Woyczik, Treampealeau, WI, and Rick Orr, Winona; his mother, Florence Northrup, Winona; 18 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandson; one sister, Genevieve Larson, Winona; nieces, nephews and their beloved cat ìBabyî; three half-brothers: Dale (Joyce) Northrup, Winona, Ronnie (Kathy) Northrup, Winona and Roger (Rita) Northrup, Oklahoma City, OK, and one half-sister, Bernetta (Jerome) Glenna, Kasson.

He was preceded in death by his son, Gale Orr in 1976; father, Norman; a granddaughter; a great-granddaughter; a brother-in-law, Howard Larson; five half-brothers: Allan Northrup, James Northrup, Roy Northrup, Jerry Northrup and Gifford Orr and one half-sister, Marilyn Rolbiecki.

Services will be Saturday, November 9, at 10:30 a.m. at McKinley United Methodist Church, Winona with the Rev. Dr. Donald D. Budd officiating. Interment will be at Woodlawn Cemetery, Winona. Veterans burial rites will be provided by the VFW Neville-Lien Post #1287, Winona.

Visitation will be Friday, November 8, from 6-8 p.m. at the Fawcett-Junker Funeral Home, Winona and there will be a prayer service at 7:30 p.m. on Friday at the funeral home. There will be one hour visitation at the church on Saturday.

Memorials may be directed to the Winona Area Hospice, McKinley United Methodist Church or the Church Elevator Fund.

Arrangements are being completed by the Fawcett-Junker Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Winona.

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