Orville K. Sill

THOMPSON -- Orville Sill, age 85 of Ottumwa, Iowa, formerly of Thompson, Iowa, died Sunday, March 11, 2007 at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa. Funeral service will be Thursday, March 15, 2007 at 10:30 AM at Bethany Lutheran Church in Thompson with Pastor Mark Decker officiating. Burial will be at Rose Hill Cemetery in Thompson with graveside military rites by American Legion Post 216 of Thompson. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 PM Wednesday, March 14 at the funeral home and an hour prior to service at the church.





Orville K. Sill was born on a farm north of Thompson, Iowa on June 17, 1921, the son of Paul and Ella (Johnson ) Sill. He received his education in country schools through the eighth grade and graduated from Thompson High School.





Orville served for five years in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II. He ended his military career as a nose gunner on heavy Liberator bombers in the European Theater.





Following his honorable discharge from the service, he returned to the Thompson area. On May 14, 1950, he was united in marriage to Lorraine Becker.





Orville worked as a bookkeeper for Peoples State Bank in Thompson for thirteen years. He worked with the County Assessor and was elected to serve as Winnebago County Supervisor. For many years he owned and operated a feed store in Thompson and drove school bus for the Thompson School District.





At the age of 62 years, Orville retired and he and Lorraine moved to the Des Moines area, spending the winters in Arizona. He loved to play golf and go fishing. He liked sports and enjoyed cheering his grandchildren on in their athletic endeavors. Orville was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Thompson and held memberships in the DAV, the VFW and the American Legion.





Orville is survived by his wife of 56 years, Lorraine Sill of Ottumwa, Iowa and three children: Terry (Sandra) Sill of Mt. Vernon, Iowa; Jane (Ervin) Burke of Ottumwa, Iowa; Mark (Lisa) Sill of Ramsey, Minnesota and eleven grandchildren; Erik, John, Anna, Kevin, Cassidy, Jill, Jenna, Jodi, Todd, Sarah and Hanah. Also surviving are two sisters and a brother, Ellen Sorenson of Woden, Iowa, Floyd Sill of Wabasha, Minnesota and Winifred Larson of the Country of Panama.





Orville was preceded in death by his parents and a son, Ken.