ORMSBY, Everett J. 1921-2008

ORMSBY, GRADY, MORRIS

Posted By: K.L. Kittleson (email)
Date: 12/23/2008 at 23:13:40

Everett J. Ormsby, formerly of Mitchell county, Iowa, died at the Grandview Heights Care Center, 910 E. Olive St., Marshalltown, Iowa, on Friday, December 19th, 2008 from complications of congestive heart failure. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 27th, at St. Henry's Catholic Church with Father Donald Czapla officiating. He will be laid to rest in the Riverside Cemetery, 610 North Center St., with full military honors by the Frank Lewis Glick American Legion Post #46.

Visitation will be held from 5-7:00 p.m. on Friday at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home,
1209 Iowa Ave. West, Marshalltown, Iowa, phone (641) 844-1234, with a 6:30 Knights of Columbus Rosary and a 7:00 p.m. vigil service. Memorials may be directed to St. Henry's Catholic Church, Iowa River Hospice or a charity of one's choice in lieu of flowers. For condolences, please visit www.mitchellfh.com . Ph 641-844-1234.

He was born June 2, 1921, in Mason City, Iowa, the son of Thomas J. and Olive (Grady) Ormsby. He began his education in a one-room country school in Hancock County. The family moved to Mitchell County and he graduated from Little Cedar High School. He attended Columbia College (now Loras College) in Dubuque one year and graduated from Iowa State where he was a member of Phi Kappa Fraternity. Following graduation, he was employed by the Army Corps of Engineers at Rock Island, Illinois and Honolulu, Hawaii. He served in the US Army in Louisiana and Hawaii.

After his honorable discharge, he returned to Iowa and began a long career as a registered civil engineer and land surveyor and as an estimator, project manager on many construction projects in Central Iowa.

Everett and Mary Morris were married on May 20, 1950 at St. Anthony's Church in Des Moines. The family moved to Marshalltown in 1959. He was a member of St. Henry's Parish and served on the Parish Council, a member of the Knights of Columbus, Catholic Order of Forrester's, the American Legion Frank Lewis Glick Post #46 and a former member of the Des Moines Engineers Club. He did not retire until his mid 70's and enjoyed his engineering profession until his death.

He is survived by Mary, his wife of 58 years; two daughters: Anne Canavespe of Houston, Texas. Rita Ormsby of Brooklyn, New York; four sons: Joe (Sue) of St. Cloud, Minnesota, Thomas of Houston, Texas, John at home, Mark (Wendy) of Silver Spring, Maryland; six grandsons: Michael Canavespe of Owasso, Oklahoma, Matthew Canavespe (fiancée Lisa) of Houston, Texas, Timothy Canavespe of Houston, Texas, Brenden, Dominick and Neil Ormsby of St. Cloud, Minnesota; two granddaughters: Evalyn Ormsby and Erin Ormsby of Silver Spring, Maryland; and a great-granddaughter Kylie Canavespe Owasso, Oklahoma.

He was preceded in death by his son, David, parents Thomas and Olive, and two brothers, Virgil and Cletus, both killed in action in World War II.

[Original obituary posted on www.mcpress.com , Dec. 23, 2008 -- Mitchell County Press]