Arnold Ortner 1926 -2006

ORTNER, KLEINE, HAMMAN

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 3/26/2013 at 12:18:23

Sioux City Journal
6 August 2006

DANBURY, Iowa -- Arnold Ortner, 80, of Danbury died Thursday, Aug. 3, 2006, at a Sioux City hospital.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Danbury, with the Rev. Terry Roder officiating. Burial will be in Danbury Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be after 2 p.m. Sunday, with the family present at 6 p.m., a vigil wake service at 7 p.m. followed by a Knights of Columbus rosary, at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Armstrong Funeral Home of Danbury and Mapleton, Iowa.

Arnie was born April 5, 1926, in Danbury, the son of John Jacob and Mary Josephine (Kleine) Ortner. He graduated from St. Mary's Grade School in Danbury.

He married Mary Ann Hamman on Nov. 24, 1947, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Mapleton, Iowa. She was the love of his life for nearly 59 years.

He farmed his entire life. From 1940 to 1947, he helped his dad. From 1947 to 1953, he farmed with his dad and his brother, Wayne Red. In 1953, Red left farming and Arnie continued farming full-time until 1988, as well as selling Pioneer Seed from 1971 to 1983. He then turned the seed business over to his son, Bill. After 1988, he continued to help his sons farm until his death. In 1980, the couple moved into Danbury from the home Ortner farm, where he had lived since birth.

He was a life long member of St. Mary's Catholic Church and a 62-year member of the Knights of Columbus. His biggest pride was his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and his devotion to his marriage. He enjoyed baseball as a child, bowling, tractor pulling and watching high school sports. He took great pleasure in his home and lawn.

Survivors include his wife, Mary Ann of Danbury; a daughter and her husband, Dedee and Gary Steemken of Sioux City; two sons and their wives, Dennis and Trude Ortner and Bill and Sandy Ortner, all of Danbury; eight grandchildren and spouses, Brent and Julie Steemken, Missy Steemken, Andy and Michelle Ortner, Rich and Tonya Ortner, Kathy Ortner, Steve Ortner, Carrie Ortner and Lisa Ortner; six great-grandchildren, Zachary and Ben Steemken and Danielle, Joseph, Erica and Lillie Ortner; a sister, Betty Ramm of Sioux City; a brother-in-law, Joe Grace of Beaverton, Ore.; two stepbrothers, the Rev. Ray Wieling and Edwin Wieling and his wife, Maria, all of Sioux City; three stepsisters, Alice and her husband, Melvin Boysen and Dorothy and her husband, Vincent Boyle, all of Danbury and Marion Trucke of Mapleton, Iowa; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his stepmother, Ann Ortner, a brother, Wayne Ortner; and four sisters, Lorene Hegarty, Bonnie Hamers, Marie Grace and Marita Ortner.

Memorials in his name may be directed to St. Mary's Catholic Church or Danbury Catholic School.