SSG Donald L. Orton, Retired US Army

Born July 30, 1930 ~ Died April 21, 2012

Donald Lee Orton was born in Weyerhauser, Wisconsin July 30, 1930 to Frank and Helen Joy (Meyers) Orton, the youngest of six children. Frank dies when Don was 17 months old. Helen remarried to August Punzel and they had five children.

Don left school in the sixth grade, working on a farm helping to support his family. When he turned 17 he joined the National Guard. One year later he enlisted in the regular army and served 20 years, retiring August 31, 1968, out of Ft. Leonardwood, Mo.

Don saw combat during two tours in Korea at the height of the action, 1949 to 1951. while there he was wounded and was awarded the Purple Heart. His bravery also merited him the Bronze Star. He spent much time in Europe on various assignments, giving him ample adventures that he loved to tell about. Re-enlisting again and again finally got him into Vietnam (1966-1967) where he served on a helicopter recovery crew. He did manage to find time to help establish an orphanage there and loved to tell stories of the children who came to them.

Upon returning to the United States he was assigned duty in Omaha, where he stayed until retirement, which was his alternate option to returning to Vietnam. He worked for Omaha Box Co. before the U.S. Postal Service as a mail handler at the main post office in Omaha. He took a medical disability retirement in February 1979 but still had more to give and eventually proved himself a worthy maintenance manager at various apartment complexes. His last retirement came May 1, 2003 when he moved to Herman, Nebraska. Don entered Maple Crest Care Center April 29, 2010 where he remained until he went home to God on Saturday, April 21.

He is survived by his wife, Janet; daughter Joy C. (Joseph) Dugan and granddaughter Sophia Pearl; step-daughter Phyllis (Michael) Olivo; step-grandson Alex (Angela) Brockmoller and Isiah, Kylese and Lijah; step-son Jeffery (Leah) Brockmoller and children: Amy Brockmoller and Justin O'Malley and Sulas; Anna (Brockmoller) and Christopher Nichols and Alexis and Jayson; Justina Brockmoller; Kylee Christman and Braydon Christman and Wyatt and Lyla Christman-Brockmoller; son, Frank Leroy Plath of Seattle, Wash.; brother James (Jeanne) Orton of Jefferson, Wisc.; sisters Evelyn, Patsy and RoseMarie all of Wisconsin; brothers Ernest and Emil Punzel of Wisconsin; nieces and nephews.

Don's favorite things to do were play pool, poker, pinochle and drink beer whenever and wherever. He loved to go fishing but seldom caught anything but trees or overhead wires, and even a seagull! He loved nature and took much pleasure in sightseeing car trips, where he frequently got lost. But it was all an adventure to him. His daughter was the delight of his life and the very reason for him to take his next breath. He took immense pride in his service to his country and would talk to anyone about his army life.

Attending church on Sunday was comforting and encouraging to him, even if he didn't catch everything that was said. And he would sing along with the music, even if he didn't know the words. He frequently read his Bible, even if after reading for twenty minutes he couldn't tell you what he read. The very concept of having God's word in his hands was inspiring.

He inspired others with his dedication to the work at hand. He was generous to a fault and took delight in sharing what he had with others. He had a kooky sense of humor and loved to be silly with the children. He kept a prideful nostalgia for his home stat of Wisconsin with loyalty to the Green Bay Packers and Milwaukee Brewers.

We will greatly miss his presence in our lives, but we will always have the essence of him to turn to. He gave to us his good spirit, but God got his soul. Rest in peace, at last.

SSG Donald L. Orton, Retired US Army

Born July 30, 1930 ~ Died April 21, 2012

Prelude--Linda Rogers

Presentation by Alex Richard Brockmoller

Advance of Colors--Jackson-Peck Post #274

The Star Spangled Banner--Patty Wilson, Mona Stout, Linda Rogers

"A Day to Remember"--a tribute written by Joy Orton

American Legion Tribute--Post Commander Carl Lorenzen

Reading: "On This Day"--Kathleen O'Connell

"The Spirit Song"--Patty, Mona and Linda

Words of Comfort--Pastor Dale Donnelly

Reading: "Taps"--Phyllis Olivo

Congregation-God Bless America (one verse)

Benediction--Pastor Dale Donnelly

"Blessed Quietness"--Patty, Mona and Linda

Retire Colors

Military Honors at Herman Cemetery Veterans Monument

Reception at Herman Fire Hall

A Day to Remember

A day to remember,
those so often forgotten.
A day to remember,
those who showed so much courage.
A day to remember,
to thank those that returned home.
A day to remember,
to embrace in our hearts those
that couldn't.
A day to remember,
their sacrifice.
--Joy Orton, Veterans Day 1996

I was inspired to write this by my father, Donald L. Orton, who fought in Korea and Vietnam. He retired from the Army as sergeant after 20 years of service.--copyright Joy Orton, 1997

Thank you for coming! Memorials may be directed to Herman Fire and Rescue or Faith Family Baptist Church, Tekamah.

~~~funeral leaflet courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings and leaflets on file in the Public Library, Blair, Nebraska ~~~

FindaGrave #247512251