Orville Bernard Owens age 86, lifelong Pleasant Valley-Baldwin resident, died peacefully Monday November 15, 2010 at the Baldwin Area Medical Center. Orville was born on November 10, 1924 on the family farmstead in Pleasant Valley; the son of Fred and Stella (Jorstad) Owens. He was baptized and confirmed at Rush River Church by Reverend Ordahl. Orville attended Valley View Elementary School prior to graduating from the Baldwin High School. He furthered his education at the University Of Wisconsin River Falls. As a young man, Orville learned the trade of farming from his father. He thoroughly loved farming and took the utmost pride in their farm. He was well known for his Polled Herefords. Although he had many to take care of, he knew them all by name as well as their lineage. He also had the fortune of being named to the Polled Hereford Hall Of Fame for his dedication to the breed. Furthermore, he enjoyed carefully dissecting a difficult crossword puzzle and keeping up to date of worldly events or historical ones too. Orville had a gift to remember tid bits of information. The old saying “If you could remember half of the things he forgot”, they must have been talking about Orville. Whether Presidents of the United States, State capitals, or names of world countries and cities; Orville was amazing. He thoroughly enjoyed traveling and held fond memories of his trips to Europe. He was a quiet man with a great faith who took everything to heart.

Orville will be fondly be remembered by his sister Jean (Vince) Tubman of Hammond, brothers Alan (Jeanne) Owens of Hammond, Dr. Fredric (Christa) Owens of West Des Moines, as well as many nieces and nephews who held a great respect for him. He is preceded in death by his parents and nephew Rick Owens.

Funeral service was 11AM Friday November 19th at Peace Lutheran Church in Baldwin with Pastor John Hanson officiating. Organist Julie Hanson accompanied the singing of Carol Lebo. Special violin music was played by his great niece Gina Lindquist. Burial is in the Peace Lutheran Cemetery. Active casketbearers were Mike Tubman, Mark Tubman, David Lindquist, Glenn Owens, Scott Owens, Alex Owens with honorary casketbearers being Orvin Peterson, Kenneth Afdahl, Mark Lebo, Kevin Stork, and Harold Jacobson. Visitation was Thursday from 4 until 6PM at the O’Connell Family Funeral Home of Baldwin.