Orville R. Taylor, 99, Hartley

Taylor was held Friday, Dec. 2, 2022, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Hartley. Pastor Chris Nitzel officiated.

Pallbearers were Jarrod Fredericks, Lucas Fredericks, Mark Fredericks, Brandon Peters, Derek Peters, Reese Taylor, Claire Taylor, Melissa Jostand, Dan Gruenig, Austin Facio and Bryan Nelson. Burial was at Pleasant View Cemetery in Hartley, with military graveside rites conducted by the Hartley American Legion, Arthur W. Kirchhoff Post #288. Hartley Funeral Home assisted with the arrangements.

Orville Robert Taylor entered this world on Sept. 29, 1923. He was the fifth of six children born to Robert and Verna (Wilson) Taylor. His first years were spent on a farm near Dickens. Later the family moved to a farm near Milford. He received his early education in rural schools and then attended high school at Okoboji Consolidated, a K-12 building in the rural Milford area. The school no longer exists, but alumni gathered often for reunions and Orv had rarely missed any of those gatherings with family and friends.

He was inducted into the United States Army on Jan. 20, 1945, during of the last months of World War II. He was on his way overseas to take part in the invasion of Japan when the atom bombs were dropped and the fighting abruptly ended. He served the rest of his time as part of the occupation forces in Japan.

Orv had a passion for baseball. Being on the team was the best part of his high school years and being able to play ball while in the service made his days in Japan more interesting. Later he enjoyed taking part in town team baseball, a common pastime in postwar years.

He farmed for 20 years following his discharge from the service. During that time he served as township chairman for the ASCS and measured lands for corn acreage and sealed corn. He also became interested in the mining business and invested in a mine in Mexico. He spent parts of 10 winters there, observing and participating in the business, an experience never-to-be forgotten.

Orville married Betty Hembd Peters on June 27, 1970, and took part in the lives of her two children, Steven and Teri. In February of 1980 his nephew, Robert Taylor, became part of the family and was adopted as their own, making the family complete.

After farming for 20 years, he chose a second career and sold securities for Waddell and Reed. Never one to be idle, he went into the antique business with Betty during their retirement years. After the business ended, he continued to refinish furniture that he would sell at antique shows and flea markets.

Orv was an active member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, the American Legion, the Lions Club, Hartley Historical Society and Hartley Investment Club. He loved his family and enjoyed being a grandfather. He liked to work with his hands, study the markets and watch all sports, especially baseball. His life story, entitled “Orville Taylor the First 95 Years,” is handwritten in Orv’s style of all caps with the disclaimer, “This story has not been prof read. The spelling and punctuation are far from perfect, but it’s my story!” Copies were distributed to family and friends and read by many more as Orv was glad to share his story.

While spelling was difficult, numbers and counting were easy and always made sense. Counting the strawberries as he filled his box at Getting’s Garden or averaging the number of semis per mile as he traveled were a couple of ways he passed time with everyday tasks. His motto in life was, “Do what needs to be done, when it needs to be done, whether you want to do it or not.”

Orv passed from this life on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, at the age of 99. Preceding him in death were his parents; brothers: Howard, Dale and Glen; sisters: Mildred Groff and Marie Wells; stepdaughter, Teri Peters Gruenig; grandson, Zachary Fredericks; and his wife of almost 50 years, Betty.

He will be greatly missed by son, Robert Taylor (special friend, Mary); stepson, Steven Peters and his wife, Judy; grandchildren: Reese and Claire Taylor, Brandon (Jazmine) and Derek Peters, Jarrod (Kaira) and Lucas Fredericks; great-grandchildren: Lyrik and Brixton Peters, Aiden Fredericks, Melissa Jostand, Mark Fredericks and Dan Gruenig; and many nieces and nephews. He always regarded the Gould and Langel families as a special part of his life.