Orville Merle Juhler

Orville Merle Juhler, the son of Andrew Petersen and Naoma Myrle (McCain) Juhler, was born on August 11, 1931 in Atlantic, Iowa. He was raised on a farm near Rorbeck, Iowa. He attended country school and graduated from Elk Horn (Iowa) High School in 1949. While in school, Orville played basketball and baseball. Following graduation, he worked two years before attending Iowa State College in Ames, Iowa, where he met Judith Genevra Rock. The couple married on June 16, 1956, at the First Methodist Church in Atlantic. Orville graduated from Iowa State in 1959, with his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. He and Judy moved to Harlan later that year, and Orville began his practice at the Harlan Veterinary Clinic. In 1968, Orville began working as a veterinary consultant for the Squealer Feed Company; he worked for them until the sale of the company in 1989.

Orville was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Atlantic until he moved to Harlan, when he became a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church. He was a member of Beta Sigma Psi, the Harlan Community School Board, Immanuel Lutheran Church council, American Veterinary Medical Association, and other community organizations. Orville liked to spend his time flying, hunting, fishing, and working with his hands.

Orville M. Juhler died on Friday, September 30, 2005, at the Salem Lutheran Home in Elk Horn, Iowa, having reached the age of 74 years, 1 month, and 19 days.

Preceding Orville in death were his parents and one niece, Patricia Juhler. Survivors include his wife of 49 years, Judy Juhler of Harlan, Iowa; one son, Greg Juhler of Omaha, Nebraska; two daughters, Cynthia Juhler and her husband Jeff Haren, and Jennifer Juhler and her husband Pat Byrnes, both of Ankeny, Iowa; two brothers, Arnold (Ellen) Juhler of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Howard Juhler of Marne, Iowa; one sister, Sharon Juhler of Des Moines, Iowa; three grandchildren, Naoma Byrnes, Theia Byrnes, and Emma Haren; nieces and nephews; and other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, October 4, 2005, at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Harlan, Iowa, with Pastor Heather Ploen officiating. Steve Petty served as organist. Honorary casket bearers were Si Mathiasen, Willard Olson, Pat Pattison, Eldo Schornhorst, Les Paulsen, and Sheldon Howerter. Active casket bearers were Craig Olson, Rob Hall, Todd Plumb, Angie Rabon, Michael Juhler, and Jim Chipman. Burial was in the Harlan Cemetery in Harlan, Iowa. The Burmeister-Johannsen Funeral Home in Harlan was in charge of the arrangements.