Orville Lynn Knisely

Orville Lynn Knisely, age 81, of Churubusco, IN, went to be with his Lord and Savior at 10:49 am on Sunday August 31, 2025, at Parkview Randallia Hospital, Fort Wayne. Born on August 11, 1944, in Wolf Lake, IN, he was the son of Orville A. and Mildred (Zumbrun) Knisely. Orville attended Milford High School and graduated with the Class of 1962. He attended college briefly before proudly serving his country in the United States Air Force. On April 20, 1966, he married Barbara Sue Eckert. Orville worked for SuperValu Foods Marketing as a Warehouseman until his retirement in 2004. He was an avid learner and taught himself to speak several different languages and was a brown belt in karate. A mountain man at heart, he loved hunting and fishing in the great outdoors. Orville would attend reenactment rendezvous dressed in the leathers created from the leathers he had tanned and sewn together. He adorned his leathers with his own beadwork and carried musket rifles he had built himself. Orville loved to cook and spend time with family, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Survivors include his children Jason (Irene) Knisely of Columbia City and Julia (Michael) George of Pandora, OH; grandchildren Jayma (Logan) Hazelbaker of Cincinnati, OH, Zachary (Jacey) George of Findlay, OH, Zebulon (Emma) George of Carey, OH, and Madeline Marshall of Fort Wayne; great grandchildren Landon Hazelbaker and Maggie Hazelbaker; siblings Shirley (Steve) Mossberg of Columbia City, Louise Custer of Kendallville, and Richard Knisely of Pierceton, IN; and a multitude of nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Barbara Knisely, and sisters Lavon Keirn and Becky Harris, brother-in-law Argyle "Bud" Keirn, stepfather Edward Teusch, stepmother Jean Knisely, and stepsister Maxine Lott. Friends may call on Friday September 5, 2025, from 3:00-8:00 pm at DeMoney Grimes Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City. Funeral services for Orville will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday September 6, 2025, at the funeral home. Burial will follow in Nolt Cemetery, Columbia City. Memorial contributions in memory of Orville may be made to Tunnel to Towers Foundation. Visit www.demoneygrimes.com to send family condolences or to sign the online guest register.