Eymard Orth

Eymard N. Orth, age 97 of Melrose, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, at the Cura Care Center in Melrose, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, November 21 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Melrose with Rev. Mitchell Bechtold officiating and Deacon Ernie Kociemba assisting. Interment will be held in the parish cemetery. Military honors will be by the Melrose Veterans Honor Guard.

All Scouts, past and present, are invited to be honorary bearers. Uniforms are encouraged but not necessary.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, November 20 at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose and from 10 to 10:45 a.m. Thursday at the church. Knights of Columbus and Catholic United Financial will pray a rosary at 4 p.m. followed by parish prayers at 7 p.m. Wednesday evening. The Mass will be livestreamed and can be viewed on the church’s YouTube channel: Church of St. Mary Melrose. 

Eymard Nicholaus Orth was born March 8, 1927, in Sauk Centre, Minnesota to Lambert and Mary (Bromenshenkel) Orth. After school, he served in the U.S. Army. He married Lucille Meyer on August 19, 1952. They farmed north of Melrose, dairying and then in 1965, he transitioned into a turkey farmer, raising quality flocks for 23 years. After retirement, they moved to Melrose in 1988, where he was active at the Pine Villa Chapel, serving Mass, lectoring, and doing prayer and communion services. He poured his life into defending the pro-life movement with MCCL. He campaigned for candidates who supported this cause. 

Eymard was a volunteer in the Boy Scouts for 30 years as an Assistant Scout Master and Chaplain. He started practicing karate at the age of 55 and received an honorary Black Belt Degree in 2002. He enjoyed gardening and was known for his beautiful grotto in the front yard, which he built.

He was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Melrose, Knights of Columbus Council #1633, and St. Bernard’s Society.

Survivors include his children, Mary (Richard) Lauer of Sauk Centre, Catherine (Dave) White of Roseland, VA, David (Linda Hinnenkamp) Orth of Melrose, Anne Orth of Becker, Joan (Shawn) Kempenich of Little Falls, Paul (Patty Berscheit) Orth of Randall, Tom (Nissa Eastvold) Orth of Oak Grove, Roseann (Jim) Engelmeyer of Freeport, Gary (JoNell Dahl) of Fargo, Steven (Michelle Beilke) Orth of Richmond, and Peter (Danelle Jutz) Orth of Rogers; 42 grandchildren, 49 great-grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren; sisters and brother, Marian Cameron of Fargo, North Dakota, Mildred Morgel of Waite Park, and Richard (Maryanne) Orth of Sauk Centre; and in-laws, Edna Orth of Sauk Centre, and Delores Orth of Sauk Centre.

Eymard was preceded in death by his loving wife, Lucille on June 28, 2023; his parents; infant daughter, Lisa Julie Orth; siblings, Walter (Lucille) Orth, Leonard Orth, Donald (Jeanette) Orth, Elmer Orth, Phillip (Dorothy) Orth, and Dorothy Orth; brothers-in-law, Tom Cameron and Steve Morgel; infant granddaughter, Abbey Grace Orth, and infant great-granddaughter, Lily Amis.