ORTH, Joseph L. 1924-2011

ORTH

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 2/14/2023 at 16:15:34

Joseph Lauffer Orth
(January 8, 1924 - March 11, 2011)

Northwood Anchor, Northwood, Iowa, Wed., March 16, 2011, p.11
Joseph "Joe" Lauffer Orth, 87, Northwood, died Friday, March 11, 2011, at the Lutheran Retirement Home in Northwood. A celebration of life and remembrance service for Joe will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 16, at the Northwood United Methodist Church, 1000 First Ave. N., Northwood, with Pastor Wendi Gillan officiating. Masonic service will be conducted by the Northern Light Masonic Lodge of Northwood on Wednesday at the church. Military honors will also be conducted by members of Our Buddies VFW memorial post 6779 of Northwood. The family of Joe would like to suggest that those wishing to give a memorial in his name may wish to consider memorial contributions be made to the Lutheran Retirement Home in Northwood, Hospice of North Iowa, and to the Northwood United Methodist Church in his memory.
Joseph Lauffer Orth was born on Jan. 8, 1924, in Hastings, Nebraska, the son of Frank Jacob and Frieda (Busboom) Orth. Joe grew up in Des Moines, and graduated from Roosevelt High School. Joe was inducted into the U.S. Army on Feb. 21, 1943, at Fort Des Moines and served overseas as an airplane armorer gunner in Southern France, Air Combat Balkans, Northern France, Rome-Arno, Po Valley, Central Europe, and Northern Apennines campaigns, and was honorable discharged for his faithful service on August 15, 1945, at the Jefferson Barracks, Missouri. Joe entered college on the G.I. Bill and attended Grinnell College graduating with a B.A. degree in economics in 1949. He was united in marriage to Mary Ellen Veenker on May 20, 1951, at the Methodist Church in Northwood and to this union three children were born: John, Frank, and Gretchen. After their marriage, Joe worked at a packing plant in Des Moines for a short period. In 1952, Joe and Mary Ellen moved to Northwood, where Joe began his career as an RCA dealership selling and repairing TVs and radios until 1962. Being artistically inclined, Joe painted a watercolor picture of the Clear Lake amusement park. Joe also attended the University of Northern Iowa in the early 1960s and taught art classes in Mason City, Waterloo, and Independence. Joe was elected to the Northwood City Council from 1958 to 1961, was elected as Northwood mayor from 1968 to 1971, and again was elected mayor from 1976 to 1983. As mayor of Northwood, Joe was instrumental in writing a federal grant that started the Northwood Public Library, and Northwood's first aquatic center. Joe had an interest in developing high tech industries for Northwood. His research and development ventures included the inception of Northern Engineering, Mico Assemblies and Accu-Mold. Joe was a member of the United Methodist Church in Northwood, Our Buddies VFW Memorial Post No. 6779 of Northwood, and the Northern Light Masonic Lodge of Northwood. Joe enjoyed trout fishing, cribbage, bridge, sailing, ping pong, chess, hunting, snow skiing, and swimming. Throughout his life, Joe was actively involved and interested in fine art. Those left to cherish his memory are his children, John (Molly) Orth of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Dr. Frank (Sandra) Orth of Columbus, Ohio, and Gretchen (Russ) Gondek of Sioux City; two grandchildren, Hannah and Hunter Orth; as well as other extended family members and friends. Joe was preceded in death by his parents; and two sisters, Emma Lou Orth, and Margaret Kaderli.