Orville Alveras Kirkham — Rochester

The funeral service for Orville Alveras Kirkham will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, March 28, 2014, at Christ United Methodist Church in Rochester, with the Rev. Nancy Wheeler Handlon. Entombment will be at Grandview Memorial Gardens.

Mr. Kirkham, 88, died Monday, March 24, 2014, at Maple Manor Health Care and Rehabilitation.

He was born Sept. 21, 1925, at Mayowood in Rochester, to Cleo and Doris (Dunford) Kirkham. On Aug. 17, 1946, he married Ruth Berndt in Rochester.

He is survived by his wife; three children, James of Hudson, Colo., Paul of Rochester and Patti (Lowell) Meyer of rural Byron; five grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; one sister-in-law, Esther Ruth Kirkham of Minneapolis; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Orville attended Hillside grade school and Rochester High School. He was drafted before graduation and was in the U.S. Army infantry from 1943-1945. He was awarded the Purple Heart from wounds received in the Battle of the Bulge. Following the war, he received a four-year journeyman's degree and worked for Kruse Lumber and Stocke & Olson.In 1956, he began Kirkham Waste Removal, retiring and selling the business in 1989.

He enjoyed the outdoors and was active in the Boy Scouts of America for 41 years and was a scout master of Troop 21 for 12 of those years. He received scouting's Silver Beaver and Wood Badge Awards and went on many trips to the World Jamboree as well as trips to Philmont, Ariz. He was active in senior bowling and a member of the VFW Post in Byron.

Christ United Methodist Church was very important to Orville. He was a long-standing member as well as an usher and greeter.

Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, March 27, at the River Park Chapel of the Macken Funeral Home, and one hour in advance of the service at church.

Memorials are suggested to the transportation van fund ofChrist United Methodist Church.

Online condolences are welcome at mackenfuneralhome.com .