KIRCHGATTER, Orlin M. 1925-1998

KIRCHGATTER

Posted By: Jeannine Peterson (email)
Date: 3/14/2012 at 15:16:19

Orlin M. Kirchatter, 73, of Grafton, died Saturday, June 20, 1998, at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit, Mason City.

Funeral services were held Tuesday at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Grafton, with the Rev. Rose Marie Lewis officiating. Burial was in the Grafton Cemetery.

Orlin was born May 13, 1925, in Manly, the son of Benjamin and Lizzie (Diedrich) Kirchgatter. He attended school in Grafton and served in the U.S. Army in Germany during WW II. Following the service, he returned to Grafton. He later lived in a variety of locations in Iowa while working as an independent truck driver who traveled the United States. Orlin was employed as a part-time handyman at Bruesewitz Chevrolet in Grafton at the time of his death.

In 1948, he married Virginia Pangburn and two children were born to this union.

His hobbies included fishing, dancing and occasional trips to casinos.

He was a member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Grafton and American Legion Post No. 616 in Grafton.

Orlin is survived by his children, Judy Schroeder and Gary Kirchgatter, both of Marshalltown; two grandchildren, Scott Underwood, Marshalltown, and Shannon Schroeder, Lewisville, TX; a great-grandchild, Haley Bean, Lewisville, TX; a sister, Ilene (Ralph) Milbrandt, Grafton; special friend, Joyce L. Hackbart, Manly; an uncle, George (Elsie) Kirchgatter, Riceville; an aunt Iva Lange, Milwaukee, WI; one niece and three nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and two grandchildren.

Mason City Globe Gazette June 1998