Orville Seamer

Orville N. Seamer, age 93, of Clinton died Monday, April 11, 2011 at Eagle Point Nursing Home. Funeral services will be at 10:30AM Sat. April 16th at the Low Moor United Methodist Church with Pastor Christine Minor-Heilig officiating. Visitation will be from 4-7PM Friday April 15th at the Clinton Chapel Snell-Zornig Funeral Home and 1 hour prior to the services at the church. Interment will be at the Elvira cemetery with military rites. Casket bearers will be grandsons, Jeremy Rickertsen, Lane Seamer, Jess Rickertsen, Jay Rickertsen, Mike Weed, Pat Roling and Lance Wiersema. Memorials may be made to Low Moor United Methodist Church, Honor Flight of the Quad Cities or Genesis Hospice. Orville was born on Christmas Eve 1917 on the Seamer family farm near Elvira (Plugtown), to Henry and Olivia Hansen Seamer. At 3 months of age his mother passed away and Orville was raised by his father and his Uncle August and Aunt Minnie Seamer in Low Moor and graduated in 1936 from Elvira High School where he was a member of the 1934-35 Clinton County Champion basketball team. In 1940 he enlisted in the Unites States Army and served 5 years in the 194th Field Artillery during WWII, 2 years of which were served in Africa and Europe where he was awarded 5 bronze battle stars and attained the rank of sergeant. He was honorably discharged in October 1945. On May 19th, 1946 he was married to Irma Jean Hudson at the Low Moor Methodist Church. He began farming the family farm in 1946. He also worked at Clinton Corn Processing Co. for 18 years retiring in 1985. He was a member of the Low Moor United Methodist Church, Clinton American Legion, former member of the Northeast School Board and the Fulton Country Club. He helped organize and plan reunions of the 194th Field Artillery for 35 years. He enjoyed playing golf and wintering in Arizona for 12 years. He was a lifelong Chicago Cubs fan, was an avid Iowa Hawkeye fan and followed all his grandchildrens activities at Northeast. He especially enjoyed family gatherings celebrating birthdays and holidays. Survivors include his wife of 65 years, Irma, 1 daughter Jean and her husband Bruce Rickertsen, 1 son Rick and his wife Nyla all of Goose Lake, 7 grandchildren, Dana and Mike Weed of Chicago, Leslie and Pat Roling of DeWitt, Jeremy and Sharon Rickertsen of Walford, Lane and Shannon Seamer of Goose Lake, Jess and Tiffany Rickertsen of Solon, Jay and Marsha Rickertsen of Des Moines and Lacey and Lance Wiersema of Clinton. Seventeen great grandchildren, Olivia and Heath Weed, Sawyer, Stetson and Saydie Roling, Kali, Collin and Jace Rickertsen, Ella and Eyan Seamer, Sydney, Brayden and Dayne Rickertsen, Addelinn and Wyatt Rickertsen, Carter Seamer and Cora Wiersema.

Orville Seamer

December 24, 1917 - April 11, 2011