Orville V. Dahl
Orville Vilas Dahl, 101, died Saturday, November 23, 2024, at Grand View Care Center in Blair.
Orville was born December 20, 1922, in Holcombe Coulee, rural Arcadia, to Bennie and Gena (Sandaker) Dahl. He married Delores Koepke, December 23, 1945, in Strum. Delores preceded Orville in death in 1983.
Orville was employed with the Town of Hale in road maintenance for 26 years prior to his retirement in 1974. Orville was well known for his fiddle playing and was an original member of the Rhythm Playboys for over 50 years. He played for countless dances, weddings, and other social events throughout Wisconsin and the Midwest. He was a musical encyclopedia and player of old-time music and fiddle tunes that he had in his head and under his fingers. You could never have too much fiddle in the band according to Orville. He was a proud, old country Norwegian who played Norwegian fiddle tunes, spoke Norwegian, made lefse and hung the Lord’s Prayer written in Norwegian in his kitchen.
If there was a better mousetrap to be built, he could figure it out as he was creative and inventive, always thinking outside the box and often taking something out of nothing to fix a problem or make something better. He took pride in his craftsmanship, whether it was his skills as a tailor, welder, inventor, woodworker or musician. His sense of humor was infectious. He would make you laugh with his instant limericks and rhymes as he himself would laugh with a twinkle in his eye. Orville enjoyed a Bud Light or two now and then and had a competitive spirit in him. He didn’t like to lose in horseshoes, be outfished, outhunted, or outplayed. Everyone would agree that Orville lived a full life of almost 102 years and was sharp as could be. He was fortunate to have Mavis Mitskogen as his companion and friend as they resided in Blair. He will be missed by many, but Orville left us with such a great family, numerous historical accounts, memories, inventions, photos, and music to be remembered with.
Orville is survived by two sons: Vilas (Carol) Dahl of Galesville and Gerald “Jerry” (Donna) Dahl of Trempealeau; a daughter, Marion (Allen) Rawson of Hoffman Estates, IL; seven grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; and two brothers: Robert Dahl of Vinton, IA and Howard Dahl of Waterloo, IA.
In addition to his parents and wife, Orville was preceded in death by three brothers: Elmo, Clifford and Elwood; and three sisters: Geneva Thompson, Lucille Bidney and Eileen Dahl.
Funeral services were held Saturday, November 30, 2024, at 11:00 a.m., at Grace Lutheran Church in Pleasantville. Mr. Scott W. Brown, SAM, officiated. Burial was at Lincoln Cemetery in Whitehall.
Visitation was held Friday, November 29, 2024, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., at Jack Funeral Home in Whitehall and also one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday.
