Elmer A. Orscheln

1930 - 2019

MOBERLY, Mo. -- Elmer Augustus Orscheln, 89, of Moberly, Mo., passed away Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019, surrounded by his children at Boone Hospital in Columbia, Mo.

Elmer was born on July 5, 1930, in Sturgeon, Mo., to Edward Joseph Orscheln and Rose Anna (Wesselmann) Orscheln.

Elmer and his late wife Peggy lived in Moberly for 62 years. They were married in 1951 in Quincy at St. Mary's Catholic Church. The couple moved to Moberly in 1957 and spent 68 beautiful years together raising a family and building a community of friends.

Elmer was first and foremost a devoted loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.

He loved golf and was a former president of the Moberly Country Club. In his early years he was proud to be a part of the "Fearsome Foursome" with his beloved buddies, Jerry Orscheln, George Vitt and Pete Schlingman.

Elmer was a loyal and dedicated servant in many ways during his long life.

He was an involved member of the Saint Pius X Catholic Church where he was a three-time Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus and served as a knight for 70 years.

He helped his dad Ed Orscheln form the Moberly Optimist Club in 1963, and joined the club himself in 1970. He was club president from 1972-1973, and became the club secretary/treasurer in 1982-holding that position until 2018. Elmer was key in starting many club programs, too many to list. He was proud to have the longest running perfect attendance of any member to this day.

He was drafted into the army in 1951 and discharged in 1953 with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. He was first stationed in Virginia at Fort Eustis, then at Fort Riley in Topeka, Kans., where he then left to work for the family business, Orscheln Brothers Truck Lines. There he was president from 1979 to 1983. In 1984 he worked for Beaufort Transfer until 2000 when he retired at age 70.

His hobbies and interests included fireworks on the Fourth of July (he loved that his birthday was on the 5th), playing games and barbecuing with family, golfing, bowling (in a league for nearly 50 years), bird watching, building things and gardening.

In his later years he loved watching John Wayne westerns, Gunsmoke, the Virginian, and It's a Wonderful Life. His kids will all agree he gave them all a wonderful life. And, because of his many friends and lives he touched, just like the toast at the end of the movie, "To Dad, the richest man in town."

Elmer Orscheln is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Peggy; parents, Ed and Rose Orscheln; sisters, Anna Luth (Lou), Jerry Vitt (George); brothers, Gene, Harold and Frank; and sister-in-law, Norma Orscheln.

Survivors include his children, Michael (Marilyn) Orscheln of Fenton, Mo., Laura (Greg) Smith of Paola, Kans., Lisa (Mike) Palmer of Moberly, Mo., Christopher (Christine) Orscheln of Columbia, Mo., Paul (Brenda) Orscheln of St. Joseph, Mo.; grandchildren, Scott (Cassie) Orscheln of Columbia, Mo., Ben (Justin) Orscheln of Kansas City, Mo., Jennifer (Adam) Flock of Columbia, Mo., Jessica (Matt) Brown of Springfield, Mo., Heather (Patrick) Woods of Stilwell, Kans., Mason Orscheln of St. Joseph, Mo., Austin Orscheln of Columbia, Mo., Nick Orscheln of St. Joseph, Mo., Kyle Orscheln of Columbia, Mo.; great-grandchildren, Michael Orscheln, Liam Flock, Alivia and Hudson Brown, Benjamin and Graham Woods; sisters-in-law, Lucille Orscheln and Ann Orscheln; extended family and close friends.

A funeral mass celebrating Elmer's life will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Dec. 16, 2019, at St. Pius X Church in Moberly, Mo.

Visitation will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, at Pathway Memorial Funeral Home, with Rosary beginning at 6 p.m.

Memorial contributions are appreciated to the St. Pius X School Foundation, 210 S. Williams St., Moberly, Mo., 65270; St. Pius X Knights of Columbus, Council #995, 209 S. Williams St., Moberly, Mo., 65270; or to the Moberly Optimist Club, P.O. Box 62, Moberly, Mo., 65270.

Condolences may be expressed online at pathwaymemorial.com and whig.com.