Kenneth Vernon Orr
April 24, 1933 — June 13, 2016
Kenneth Vernon Orr was born April 24, 1933 in Knoxville, Iowa the son of Kenneth E. Orr and Edna (Betterton) Orr.
Vern was raised in Knoxville and graduated with the Class of 1953. He first worked as a mechanic for Hawkeye Farm Equipment, and later attended mechanic training in Omaha. Vernon would later work for Sumner-Ramsey Pontiac in Des Moines. On May 23, 1968 Vernon was united in marriage to Gloria Winslow in Des Moines, Iowa. The couple moved to Knoxville in 1975 to be administrators of the Marion County Care Facility. They retired in 1996.
Vernon and Gloria were avid Cyclone fans and always parked in Johnny Orr’s parking spot using their personalized “Orr” license plates. He was also an avid baseball fan. Vernon was an artist and enjoyed drawing and painting. He liked camping and the family vacations to Canada, Yellowstone, New Orleans, Hawaii and Alaska. Vernon also enjoyed working on the Vande Kamp race car with his grandsons and son-in-law. His greatest joy was spending time with his wife, children and grandchildren.
Vernon passed away on Monday, June 13, 2016 at the Pella Regional Health Center at the age of 83 years.
He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Carroll Edward Orr; daughter, Patricia Lynn Orr; grandson, Timothy Michael Vande Kamp; great-grandson, Lane Allen Orr and sister, Alberta Dunkin.
Those left to cherish Vernon’s memory include his wife, Gloria of Pella; children: Cynthia (Ron) Vande Kamp of Knoxville, Mark (Patty) Orr of Attica, James Orr of Nevada, Terry Orr of Nevada and Tom (Karri) Orr of Knoxville; grandchildren: Tina Williams (Scott Puckett); Troy (Angela) Vande Kamp; Toby (Brittany) Vande Kamp; Tyler Vande Kamp (Megan Hafer); Tracy (Carl) Barr; Dean Bartley; Kurt Gagel; Kenneth (Angela) Orr; Melissa; Amber (Jake) Bonnie; Kevin (Barb) Orr; Megan (Jack) Turner; Bryce Orr (Rissa Ernst); Hallie Orr; Andrew Orr and Hanna Orr; 31 great-grandchildren; 5 great-great grandchildren and many other family members and friends.
Funeral services for Kenneth Vernon Orr age 83 of Pella and formerly of Knoxville will be held on Friday, June 17 at 10:30 a.m. at the Bybee & Davis Funeral Home. Burial will follow in the Graceland Cemetery. Visitation will begin after 1:00 p.m. Thursday at the Bybee & Davis Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Memorials may be made to the family.
Vern was raised in Knoxville and graduated with the Class of 1953. He first worked as a mechanic for Hawkeye Farm Equipment, and later attended mechanic training in Omaha. Vernon would later work for Sumner-Ramsey Pontiac in Des Moines. On May 23, 1968 Vernon was united in marriage to Gloria Winslow in Des Moines, Iowa. The couple moved to Knoxville in 1975 to be administrators of the Marion County Care Facility. They retired in 1996.
Vernon and Gloria were avid Cyclone fans and always parked in Johnny Orr’s parking spot using their personalized “Orr” license plates. He was also an avid baseball fan. Vernon was an artist and enjoyed drawing and painting. He liked camping and the family vacations to Canada, Yellowstone, New Orleans, Hawaii and Alaska. Vernon also enjoyed working on the Vande Kamp race car with his grandsons and son-in-law. His greatest joy was spending time with his wife, children and grandchildren.
Vernon passed away on Monday, June 13, 2016 at the Pella Regional Health Center at the age of 83 years.
He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Carroll Edward Orr; daughter, Patricia Lynn Orr; grandson, Timothy Michael Vande Kamp; great-grandson, Lane Allen Orr and sister, Alberta Dunkin.
Those left to cherish Vernon’s memory include his wife, Gloria of Pella; children: Cynthia (Ron) Vande Kamp of Knoxville, Mark (Patty) Orr of Attica, James Orr of Nevada, Terry Orr of Nevada and Tom (Karri) Orr of Knoxville; grandchildren: Tina Williams (Scott Puckett); Troy (Angela) Vande Kamp; Toby (Brittany) Vande Kamp; Tyler Vande Kamp (Megan Hafer); Tracy (Carl) Barr; Dean Bartley; Kurt Gagel; Kenneth (Angela) Orr; Melissa; Amber (Jake) Bonnie; Kevin (Barb) Orr; Megan (Jack) Turner; Bryce Orr (Rissa Ernst); Hallie Orr; Andrew Orr and Hanna Orr; 31 great-grandchildren; 5 great-great grandchildren and many other family members and friends.
Funeral services for Kenneth Vernon Orr age 83 of Pella and formerly of Knoxville will be held on Friday, June 17 at 10:30 a.m. at the Bybee & Davis Funeral Home. Burial will follow in the Graceland Cemetery. Visitation will begin after 1:00 p.m. Thursday at the Bybee & Davis Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Memorials may be made to the family.
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