Orpha B. Walrack

Orpha B. Walrack, age 90 of Blanchardville died on Thursday morning, May 14, 2009 at the Lafayette Manor in Darlington. She was born in Iowa County, Moscow Township, Wisconsin on July 1, 1918 to Henry & Alma (Pederson) Hanson. She attended the Moscow rural school, 1 year at the Ingwell-Watrud rural school, and then graduated from the Blanchardville High School in 1936. She attended the Green County Normal School in Monroe. After leaving school she worked for Riley Walrack for a year as a house keeper, and then they were married on July 18, 1938 in Dodgeville. Orpha farmed with Riley in the Blanchardville area for many years. Later on she ran the farm and cared for Riley at home until his death on November 8, 1968. She farmed alone for five years after his death, then sold the farm in 1973 and moved to her mother's farm. She bought a house in Blanchardville and lived there from the fall of 1988 until recently. She was a lifelong member of the Blanchardville Lutheran Church and Women of the ELCA. She served as a foster grandparent in the Pecatonica and Dodgeville Elementary Schools for 12 years. Orpha also loved sewing quilts and clothing. Orpha was proud of her Norwegian heritage. She played accordion with her father years ago in an orchestra for local house parties and local nursing homes. She loved her family and her grandchildren. Orpha is survived by two daughters, Jean (Russell) Stiner of Blanchardville and Julie (David) Harris of Argyle; a step-daughter, Kathleen Ayen of Janesville; 6 grandchildren, Nathan (Joan) Ula, Nolan (Suzanne) Ula, Lucy Harris, Roman (Brooke) Harris, Aaron (Tammy) Harris and Rachel Harris; 10 step-grandchildren, Richard Ayen, Mary Ann Dailey, Don Ayen, Suzie Pann, Kathy Schoenbeck, Barb Arndt, Sandra, Dennis and David Walrack and Nancy Minter, 8 great-grandchildren; and 3 great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; 2 step-sons, Lloyd Walrack who died in battle in World War II, and Riley Walrack, Jr. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 16, 2009 at 1:00 PM at the Blanchardville Lutheran Church in Blanchardville. Rev. Mark Gruner of the Pecatonica Lutheran Parish will officiate. Burial will be in the Graceland Cemetery in Blanchardville. Visitation will be at the church from 11:00 AM until the time of service on Saturday. The Saether Funeral Home in Blanchardville is assisting the family.