Orville D. Ehster

MADISON - Orville Dean Ehster was born in West Allis, Wisconsin on May 4, 1928, to William and Elsie (Schultz) Ehster. He was baptized into the Christian faith on August 21, 1928, at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Milwaukee, and confirmed as a Lutheran at Mt. Hope Lutheran Church in West Allis.

After high school, Orv earned a mason apprenticeship and worked as a bricklayer in the Milwaukee area. In his spare time, he built a home, and when it was completed, he sold it to build a home for his family. When injuries plagued him, he pursued insurance sales, fine paper box sales, cemetery sales, owned a Dunkin’ Donuts and numerous Flowerama flower shops, and finally, was a certified financial planner until almost age 80.

Orv was married for a total of 61 years, first to his high school sweetheart, Dorothy Wahl, in 1949. She passed away suddenly in 1980. In 1988, he married Lylee Harris, who passed away in 2018.

Orv truly loved his family, always asking how all were doing, who played what sport, and then later, “who won?”! He was always there to help with anything we needed as a family. Orv loved woodworking and gardening. He was a wonderful baker and the first to say he’d bring the dessert to family gatherings! His grand and great grandchildren looked forward to decorating the gingerbread houses he built with the precision of a mason.

Orv’s strong faith in Christ was of utmost importance in his life. As a mem-ber of the Lutheran Church of the Living Christ in Madison, he was very involved in church work, traveling to Canada for many years teaching bible school to the children on the reservation. He was chairman of the Building Committee for the current church sanctuary. He sang in the choir, taught Sunday School, and attended a Men’s Bible Study for many years. He loved his church and missed it so much when he could no longer make the trip. His pastors visited him often, which he really looked forward to.

Orv lived on his own until December 2019. Needing more help, he moved into Drumlin Reserve in Cottage Grove, then to Our House Assisted Living in Cambridge where, under the kind and helpful care of St. Croix Hospice, he passed away peacefully on October 14, 2022, at the age of 94 years.

Orv is survived by his son David (Cathy) Ehster, his daughter Linda (Thomas) Reason, seven grandchildren, nine great grandchildren, cousins, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his three-year-old brother Melville, his father William, his first wife Dorothy, his mother Elsie, his sister Eileen (Ehster) Redmann, and his second wife Lylee.

A celebration of life will be held at THE LUTHERAN CHURCH OF THE LIVING CHRIST, 110 N. Gammon Road, Madison, at 11 a.m., on Friday, October 28, 2022. Visitation will be at the church from 9:30 am until the time of service. Pastor Dan Kowert will officiate. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Orv’s life.

Memorials may be given to the Lutheran Church of the Living Christ, or to the family, who will direct them to macular degeneration research.

All Faiths Funeral & Cremation Services of Madison is assisting the family. Online condolences can be made at www.866allfaiths.com.