Orville Ahrens

Orville A. Ahrens, 81, of Jackson passed away Friday, Oct. 29, 2021, at his home near Tilsit.

The youngest of three children, Orville was born Jan. 3, 1940, in Jackson, to Walter and Ruby Aufdenberg Ahrens. He was baptized and confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Tilsit. He attended the church's elementary school and Poplar Ridge School.

Orville and Nora Proffer were united in marriage on Jan. 15, 1961, at the church. Orville served as a Sunday school teacher and remained a faithful member of the church until his passing.

Orville served honorably in the U.S. Army from May 9, 1963, to May 7, 1965.

He was a lifelong farmer. After his military service, he drove a school bus for the Jackson School District; worked at Macke's Mercantile; John Deere; Heuer & Sons Implement, and then worked over 37 years at Ceramo in Jackson, retiring in 2009.

Loving survivors include his wife of 60 years, Nora Ahrens of Jackson; four children, Donna (Dennis) Cook of Jackson, Brenda (Steve) Butler of Friedheim, Terry Ahrens (Melissa Humes) of Friedheim and Mark (Abby) Ahrens of Ste. Genevieve, Missouri; six grandchildren, Mollie (Billy) Rhodes, Ashley Cook (fiance Trevor Dunn), Hunter Cook, Kayla (Justin) Legrand, Paul and Hannah Ahrens; two great-grandchildren, Mason and Carson Legrand; two siblings, Charles (Alice) Ahrens of Jackson and Melba (the late Norman) Brase of Cape Girardeau; and Nora's siblings, Mary (the late Milton) Schlimpert of Altenburg, Missouri; Glenda (the late Ronald) Fornkohl of Cape Girardeau; and Marvin Keith Proffer.

Orville was preceded in death by his parents and brothers-in-law, Norman Brase, Milton Schlimpert and Ronald Fornkohl.

Visitation will be from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Tilsit.

The Rev. Mark Boettcher will conduct the funeral at 2 p.m. Saturday at the church. Interment and military honors will follow at Russell Heights Cemetery in Jackson.

Serving as pallbearers will be Larry Ahrens, Hunter Cook, Paul Ahrens, Billy Rhodes, Justin Legrand and Trevor Dunn. Honorary pallbearers will be Mollie Rhodes, Ashley Cook, Kayla Legrand and Hannah Ahrens.

Memorials may take the form of contributions to Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery in Tilsit or Southeast Cancer Center in Cape Girardeau.

Arrangements are by McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.

Online condolences may be shared with the family by clicking on the tribute wall tab of Orville's personal obituary page at www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.