Orvel Ralph “Orv” Dreesen, 84, Ellsworth, died Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021, at his home.
A funeral service was Saturday, Feb. 20, at the Bethel Reformed Church south of Ellsworth. Burial with full military honors provided by the Ellsworth American Legion was at the Grand Prairie Cemetery in Ellsworth.
Orvel Dreesen was born on May 26, 1936, to Ralph and Aalke (Groen) Dreesen in Pipestone County, Minnesota. The family lived in Elkton, South Dakota, where Orvel attended country school. When he was 8 years old, the family moved to a farm near Adrian. He attended Adrian Public School for grades 3-4. The family then moved to a farm near Luverne, and he attended and graduated from eighth grade country school. He worked for various farmers. At age 16 he lived and worked for his uncle and aunt, George and Arlene Groen, until the fall of 1961. During that time he joined the Army and was stationed in Stuttgart, Germany.
Orvel married Karen Harms on Feb. 3, 1961. They lived at the Groens’ farm for a short time. In 1963 they moved to Ellsworth, and Orvel bought the plumbing and heating shop known as Orv’s Plumbing and Heating, and he acquired his master plumber’s license. They owned and operated the business for 50 years, retiring in 2013. Their three sons purchased the business, which is now known as Orv & Sons Inc. Orv continued to help until November of 2020.
Orvel is survived by his wife, Karen; a daughter, Tania (Randy) Heikes of Luverne; three sons, Kevin (Glenda) Dreesen, Chad (Becca) Dreesen, and Jerry Dreesen, all of Ellsworth; grandchildren Jessie (Curt), Kristy, Britney (Brian), Courtney, Glen, Devin, Morgan, and Brekkyn; and great-grandchildren Ashton, Vaughn, Alena, Layne, Penelope, Amelia, Wesson and Smith.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his sisters Anna Mae (Bill) Green and Aleida (Harry) Meyerhoff; his brothers Dick (Dolores) Dreesen and Ben (Thelma) Dreesen; and a grandson-in-law, Jake Gonnerman.
Arrangements were provided by Dingmann Funeral Home of Luverne, dingmannandsons.com.
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