Blackmore, Orville Ray 1930-2017

BLACKMORE, SCHULTZ, BENNETT

Posted By: Doris Hoffman, Volunteer (email)
Date: 10/27/2017 at 14:07:40

Orville Ray Blackmore

June 30, 1930 - October 21, 2017

Orville R. Blackmore, 87, of Merrill, Iowa passed away Saturday, October 21, 2017 at the Royal C. Johnson Veterans Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, October 25, 2017 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Merrill. Burial will follow in Hillside Cemetery in Merrill with military honors provided by the Oleson-Halweg American Legion Post 125 of Merrill. Visitation with the family present will be after 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, October 24, 2017, with a Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m., all at Rexwinkel Funeral Home in Le Mars. Visitation will resume from 9:30 a.m. until service time on Wednesday at the church. Arrangements are with the Rexwinkel Funeral Home in Le Mars.

Orville Ray Blackmore was born June 30, 1930 on the family farm near Merrill, Iowa, the son of Walter and Hedvig (Schultz) Blackmore. He attended country school and later graduated from Hinton High School. Following high school, he worked as a farm hand for area farmers.

On February 21, 1952, he enlisted in the United States Marine and served his country during the Korean Conflict. He was honorably discharged on February 20, 1954. Following his discharge, he returned to the area and went to work for Great Northern Railroad in Sioux City.

He was united in marriage to Viola Bennett on October 1, 1955 in Sioux City, Iowa.

Orville worked for Fullerton Lumber, Walensky Lumber, and United Building Center for over 45 years until his retirement in 1995. He continued working part time for another 10 years.

He was lifelong member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Merrill, having served many time on the church council. He was a member of the Oleson-Halweg American Legion Post 125 of Merrill, serving many terms as commander. He was also a member of the Marine Corp League in Sioux City and the Last Man Standing Club in Le Mars. He enjoyed playing cards, volunteering his time with community projects, and doing carpentry work. But most of all, he loved the time spent with his grandsons and great grandchildren.

Survivors include his wife of over 62 years, Viola of Merrill; a daughter: Debra (Kenneth) Daugherty of Sioux City, IA; 5 grandsons: Chris (Leeja) Daugherty of Cherokee, IA, Nick (Marnee) Daugherty of Le Mars, Brad (Rachel) Daugherty of Le Mars, Brian (Ivy) Daugherty of Le Mars, and Chad (Crystal) Blackmore of Merrill; 14 great grandchildren; 3 great great grandchildren; 3 siblings: Walter Blackmore of Rochelle, IL, Lorine Hawkins of Maurice, IA, and Mary Crippen of Merrill; 2 sisters in law: Marian Blackmore of Merrill and Joretta Blackmore Harms of Lennox, SD; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two sons: Michael and Douglas; a daughter: Cheryl Kinzie; four brothers: Lawrence, John, Norman, and Larry Blackmore; three sisters: Betty Blackmore, Juanita Schoen, and Dorothy Hesebeck.

Rexwinkel Funeral Home
Le Mars, Iowa