Orrin A. Anderson

I didn't personally know Orrie, but I believe he was a distant cousin of my deceased husband, Gary Blexrude. I believe his parents ran a grocery store at the bottem of the Plank Street Hill in Eau Claire. I remember Orrie as a key player on the 1955 High School Championship Eau Claire High School game in Madison. (At the time it was Eau Claire Senior High School, before Memorial was built.) I attended the game with some girl-friends from

I didn't personally know Orrie, but I believe he was a distant cousin of my deceased husband, Gary Blexrude. I believe his parents ran a grocery store at the bottem of the Plank Street Hill in Eau Claire. I remember Orrie as a key player on the 1955 High School Championship Eau Claire High School game in Madison. (At the time it was Eau Claire Senior High School, before Memorial was built.) I attended the game with some girl-friends from Eau Claire, and we stayed at my sister's place in Madison. She was there with her husband who was attending Medical School down there. Good Memories! God bless his family - - Greet the long lost relatives - -
Sincerely, Sandy (O'Mara) Blexrude

Dear Karn and Family,

I was just a child when Orrie (as we used to call him) used to visit my parents, John & Judy Quast in Greenfield WI. It's been MANY years since I last saw him, but my mom let me know of his passing and I wanted to express my sympathies and share a few memories. When I think of Orrie, I remember him always joking around and laughing - he loved to tease, but in a good

Dear Karn and Family,

I was just a child when Orrie (as we used to call him) used to visit my parents, John & Judy Quast in Greenfield WI. It's been MANY years since I last saw him, but my mom let me know of his passing and I wanted to express my sympathies and share a few memories. When I think of Orrie, I remember him always joking around and laughing - he loved to tease, but in a good way, like the way he gave me and each of my siblings a silly nickname. I also remember marathon Yahtzee games at our kitchen table that went on well into the night whenever he came for a visit. I can still recall the sound of dice shaking in a cup and tumbling across the table as I drifted off to sleep.

May your memories give you peace and strength at this difficult time.

Julie (Quast) Wisniewski - A/K/A "Julie Bulie"

Dear Karn & family,
I was so sorry to learn about Orrie's passing. He was a great guy & I have so many memories of him. He went to school with my late husband, John, & so Orrie was part of my family for many years. He & I used to play many, many games of Yahtzee together at my home. I just know that he, John, Fred, & Dan are now together having a great time.

Love & prayers,
Judy Quast

Dear Karn and family, our best wishes to you and your family.

Jon (a Fortney) Dahl and Kate.

I AM SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS. I REMEMBER COMING OUT TO YOUR HOUSE AND CLEANING. ORRIN SURE WAS A NICE PERSON TO BE AROUND. MY PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU AND YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. TAKE CARE. ROIE AND JIM

Orrin and I were classmates in grade school at the Campus School of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Our homes were several blocks apart and there was interaction outside of the classrooms - particularly with basketball and softball being the common areas of interest. John and Fred Brendan were part of the group.

My last involvement with Orrin was in 1955 when Memorial HS won the state championship. I played for Regis HS and we played Memorial twice thar year. We

Orrin and I were classmates in grade school at the Campus School of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Our homes were several blocks apart and there was interaction outside of the classrooms - particularly with basketball and softball being the common areas of interest. John and Fred Brendan were part of the group.

My last involvement with Orrin was in 1955 when Memorial HS won the state championship. I played for Regis HS and we played Memorial twice thar year. We came away from both encounters losing by over forty points at each event.

It sounds like Orrin had a good life. I wish that we could have seen eachother later in our lives.

Howard Buckley

My daughters & I knew Orrin form Sears. He always had great stories,jokes & of course we all got a nickname. Mine was" Bucky" - for our shared love oof the Badgers. My oldest daughter was " fudgekin" because Orrin thought she ate all the fudge I had brought in for Christmas & he didn't get a piece, but she hates chocolate!! The younger daughter was just the yougster & then We brought in our 2 granddaughters, well they just

My daughters & I knew Orrin form Sears. He always had great stories,jokes & of course we all got a nickname. Mine was" Bucky" - for our shared love oof the Badgers. My oldest daughter was " fudgekin" because Orrin thought she ate all the fudge I had brought in for Christmas & he didn't get a piece, but she hates chocolate!! The younger daughter was just the yougster & then We brought in our 2 granddaughters, well they just loved Orrin & of course they got nicknames too. The oldest one, Kaylie is "special K" & her younger sister is "Ditto" because Orrin noticed in about the first 5 seconds that she did everything her older sister did. I will really miss Orrin!! Sears hasn't been the same since he left!! I will think of him, as I always have, everytime I watch the Badgers - but I really miss the post game analysis. I will also miss being asked everytime the pre-season red/white is played be asked -" Hey Peg, the Badgers play tomorrow who do you think will win???" He got me the first time, but he tried every year after, anyway. :-) RIP my good friend!!

You were a great classmate whose memory was incredible. You will be missed good friend. Our best to Karn.

Very Sorry to learn about Orrin's passing. We have so much enjoyed the past family reunions we attended at Karn & Orrin's Fortney Family Farm. Being there brought back a lot of fond memories when we were all kids. You are not alone Karn, we will keep you in our thoughts and prayers. God Bless.
Love, Jack & Sylvia

We came to a Fortney reunion at your home in 2008 we had such a wonderful time. It was great to meet Karn & Orrin and here about your family and share stories about Grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. My father was the oldest and still is the oldest Fortney to our knowledge still alive at the age of 93 in June. We loved hearing about the farm and everyone sharing stores and memories. God's Blessings to Karn and family.
Love Wayne & Henrietta Fortney