Donna Belle (Wigg) ORTE

ORTE, WIGG, SMITH, HANSEN, ERICKSON, LARSEN, ARTHUR, TREES, PRECHTAL

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 6/13/2007 at 21:42:32

Wright County Monitor
14 June 2007

Donna B. Orte, 73, of Clarion, passed away Monday, June 11, 2007 at Wright Medical Center Hospice Unit, Clarion, with her children at her side following a courageous battle with cancer. Funeral services were held Thursday, June 14th at the Clarion Church of Christ. Rev. Timothy Platt will officiate the 10:30 a.m. service. Burial will be held at Evergreen Cemetery, Clarion.

Donna Belle Wigg was born March 21, 1934 at Clarion, the daughter of Hartwig Racine and Estella Marie (Smith) Wigg. [Mother-Estella Marie (Smith) WIGG HANSEN] She began her lifelong Christian faith journey through baptism at the Clarion Church of Christ. Donna and siblings were raised in Clarion and she attended Clarion schools, graduating from Clarion High School in the Class of 1952. Following her education Donna was employed with the Birdsall, Archerd, Nagel Law Firm in Clarion for three years. She then moved to Clinton where she lived while being employed for General Electric in Morrison, Illinois. During her tenure there she met Marvin Ray Orte and they were united in marriage on February 11, 1956 at the Clarion Church of Christ. Donna was employed for many years in the health care industry as a bookkeeper at the Clarion Care Center and also for a time at the Fairfield Care Center in Fairfield, Iowa. Much of her career was in the administrative office roles. She also owned and operated a bakery in Fairfield for 11 years, a career torch that has been continued by the Orte's Bakery in Mason City. Donna took great pride in watching her family succeed in whatever life's journey brought them. She was a lifelong member of the Clarion Church of Christ where she was active in the Pioneer Club, youth programs leadership, church camp programs, Vacation Bible School, Adult Sunday School, and faithfully served whenever and whereever the need arose. She gave of her time to the Meals on Wheels programs and volunteered at the Wright Medical Center in Clarion.

She is survived by her children-Marty Orte and wife Susan of Sheffield, Connie Erickson and husband Scott of Belmond, Steven Orte and wife Tamara of Clear Lake, David Orte of Tucson, Arizona, Linda Orte of Fairfield, Susan Erickson and fiancee Brian Larsen of Belmond, most recently of Hampton; 11 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; two sisters-Phyllis Arthur of Mason City; Marjorie Trees of Belmond; sister-in-law, Imogene Wigg of Clarion; special friend, Anton Prechtal of Fairbanks, Arkansas; many nieces and nephews.