Obituaries for February 23, 2003

Published 12:00 am Sunday, February 23, 2003

George W. Orcutt, 94

George W. Orcutt, 94, of Austin, died Thursday, Feb. 20, 2003, at the Austin Medical Center.

He was born May 6, 1908, in Lyle, Minn., to William and Clara (Eastlee) Orcutt. He grew up on a farm near Lyle. He graduated from Lyle High School and then attended Business College in Mankato. He married Neva Dufty on Aug. 19, 1933. He worked for the State of Minnesota as a scaler at the George A. Hormel Company. He was a member of the Church of Christ and the Isaac Walton League in which he was recognized for outstanding service over many years.

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Years later George would entertain friends and family for hours with stories of his country life. His adventurous spirit and sense of humor made him a popular story teller. His memories of days gone by were treasured by his grandchildren.

When he was a young man, he loved to go dancing and recalled heading out to a dance more than once with horse and buggy in a snowstorm, and making it. He enjoyed hunting and fishing, and in later years, listening to music, reading, family activities, and letter writing, done usually on an antique typewriter. The letters he wrote (sparing no words) to politicians are too numerous to count.

A fiercely independent man, George lived his 94 years with never a thought of giving up. He remained interested in life to the very end. That is his greatest legacy.

Funeral services will be held Monday, Feb. 24, 2003, at 2 p.m. at Clasen-Jordan Mortuary Chapel with the Rev. Russell Wangen officiating. Interment will be in the Enterprise Cemetery, Rose Creek. Visitation will be held at Clasen-Jordan Mortuary on Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. and on Monday one hour before the service.

Organist will be Shirley Cahill.

Soloist will be Michael Veldman.

Casket Bearers will be:

Brian Barnett, Jay Barnett, Alex Orcutt, Richard Hull, Noel Austin, Jack Remkery.

He is survived by his: Daughters & son-in-law: Joann & Harry Stevens of Austin, Minn., Nancy Thatcher of Circle Pines, Minn.; son & daughter-in-law: William & Barb Orcutt of Austin, Minn.; six grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; Sister: Mary Jean Austin of Albert Lea, Minn.; nieces & nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents; wife Neva, 2000; brothers John and Evan; and sister Helen Murphy.

Memorials are preferred to the Parmount Theater or the Isaac Walton League.

Joseph "Wayne" Tapp, 86

Joseph "Wayne" Tapp, 86, died Friday morning, Feb. 21, 2003, at Field Crest Care Center in Hayfield, Minn.

Wayne was born May 28, 1916, the son of Harvey and Myrtle (Smith) Tapp in Dade County, Mo. The family moved to Minnesota when Wayne was a small child and he has resided in the Brownsdale area most of his life. Wayne was a farmer and a member of the First Baptist Church in Brownsdale. He was a Sunday school superintendent and served on the board of trustees and the board of deacons.

Wayne is survived by one son, Truman and wife, Faye Tapp, Orange Park, Fla.; one daughter, Donna and husband, Eugene Dennis, Austin, Minn.; five brothers, Gaylord & wife, Erene Tapp, Brownsdale, Minn.; Glenn and wife, Shirley Tapp, Rose Creek, Minn.; Leslie and wife, Shirley Tapp, Dexter, Minn.; Delmar Tapp, Dexter, Minn.; John Tapp, Owatonna, Minn.; one sister, Irene Parker, Lockwood, Mo.; one sister-in-law, Virginia Engelman, Austin, Minn.; one brother-in-law, Brooke Carmichael, Monroe, Wash.; four grandchildren, three great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; step mother, Julia Tapp; wife, Dorothy Tapp; one grandson, Cory; three brothers, Howard, Raymond, and Donald; and one sister, Maxine Carmichael.

Friends and family may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday, Feb. 24, 2003, at the Czaplewski Family Funeral Home in Brownsdale and one hour before the service at the church on Tuesday. The funeral service will be 1 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2003, at the First Baptist Church with Rev. Jerry Harris officiating. Interment will be in Greenwood Cemetery in Brownsdale, Minn.

Blessed be his memory.