Orval Arthur Kohls

Orval Kohls, age 84, of Wheaton, Minnesota passed away Monday, February 16, 2026 at Sanford Wheaton Hospital.

Funeral Services will be held Friday, February 20, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. at St. John Lutheran Church in Wheaton with Pastor Bill Aufdenkamp officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to service time at the church. Interment will be in St. John Lutheran Cemetery, rural Wheaton.

Orval Kohls was born at home on March 6, 1941 in rural Blomkest, Minnesota to Elizabeth (Miller) and Arthur Kohls. He was baptized and confirmed in Danube, MN. Orval graduated from Danube High School in 1959.

After high school, he went to work at the Cargill elevator in Blomkest. In 1961 he began working for Duininck Brothers. During that time, he met Gayle, who would become his wife and lifelong partner.

Orval and Gayle were married on November 30, 1968. As they started their family, Orval decided to find work closer to home. In 1969 he took a position with the Danube Elevator and was promoted to General Manager in 1973.

In 1983 Orval and Gayle moved to Wheaton, MN with their three boys. He began working at the Wheaton Dumont Co-Op Elevator until retiring in 2005.

Orval served on the Danube City Council, the fire department, and the church board. He also served on several grain association boards over the years.

Retirement didn’t slow Orval down. He worked as a crop adjuster for RCIS and spent time at the local John Deere dealership. He truly enjoyed staying connected to the farming community.

Orval and Gayle enjoyed their lake place, attending grandchildren’s sporting events, and vacationing.

Orval also enjoyed the camaraderie of his Bible study, morning breakfasts, and men’s night.

Orval’s memory lives on in his wife, Gayle of Wheaton, MN; his son, Brent (Jennifer) Kohls of Mayville, ND; his grandchildren, Jerica Lahlum; Jaxton (Emily) Henning; Jake Kohls; Sam Kohls; Ben Kohls; Abigayle Kohls; Julia (Sam) Satrom; and Lauren Kohls; and his great-grandchildren, Jerzy Luehring, Ryatt Luehring, Barrett Lahlum, and Colson Henning.

Orval was preceded in death by his parents, sons Barry Henning and Brad Kohls, and brother Eldon Kohls.