Donald Ortlund
June 23, 2009
Don Ortlund, 95, went to be with the Lord, Tuesday, June 23, 2009, at Valley View Village in Des Moines.
Don was born on January 24, 1914, in Fort Dodge, Iowa to JB and Minnie (Nelson) Ortlund. Don worked for Pioneer Hi-Bred for 12 years and served in the United States Navy. Don was a loving pastor and faithful evangelist with the Evangelical Free Church of America. Don served as pastor at Indianola Heights Evangelical Free Church in Des Moines, Richvale Evangelical Free Church in Richvale, CA, Homewood Evangelical Free Church in Moline, Ill., District Superintendent of SW Border District. He also had a Dial-a-Devotion ministry in Des Moines.
Don was known for his passion for life and living it joyfully in the Lord. He will be remembered for his devotion to Eleanor, his wife for 69 years, his love for his family, friends and his deep faith and love for God.
He was preceded in death by his wife Eleanor. He left his legacy to his 3 children, Dennis (Linda) Ortlund of Des Moines, Susan (Paul) Cowan of Vienna VA, Sharlene Ortlund of Hong Kong, China, 6 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.
A Service of Celebration of Don's life will be held 2:00 p.m. Saturday, June 27, 2009, at the Indianola Heights Evangelical Free Church, 3000 SE 9th Street, Des Moines. A visitation with family present will be from 6-8 pm Friday, June 26 at Hamilton's near Highland Memory 121 NW 60th Ave. The family will have a private burial.
Memorial Contributions may be made to Valley View Village, 2571 Guthrie Ave., Des Moines, Iowa 50317.
He was greatly loved and will be greatly missed.
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com
Don & Martha Newell
07/01/2009
Denny, Sue, and Shar,
We were so fortunate to have your Dad as our pastor not only at Indianola Heights, but
then again in Moline. We have such fond memories of him, as well as Eleanor. They were
exactly what a pastor and pastor's wife should be. We were so sorry that we could not
be there for the Memorial Service, but were out of town.
Pastor O had a special place in our hearts as very early in our marriage, he came to our
apartment and led Don to the Lord.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Don & Martha Newell
Nina & Jim Fickes
06/28/2009
Dear Sharlene, Sue & Dennis,
Please know that we are praying for your comfort in these difficult days. You have the joy of knowing that your dear Dad (and Mother) are walking and singing with the Lord. We can imagine Don singing "Children of the Heavenly Father", perhaps in Swedish, with the Father Himself! Walking with Eleanor again, that infectious smile lighting up and rivaling the radiance of Christ!
But you also are dealing with the sorrow of separation, so please know that we are thinking about you and holding you up in prayer.
What fond and precious memories we have of your dad at Homewood! We haven't lived in Moline for many years now (we're in the Dayton, Ohio area) but we always look back on him and his ministry with fondness and tender memories. He was indeed a pastor's pastor, a friend to all, a mentor, a comforter, a counselor, and a true soul-winner. And LOTS of humor! He had a passion for the life God gave him, and we will forever be grateful for his ministry in our lives.
We were so fortunate to visit him and El in their home in Mesa several years ago and had the privilege of worshiping with them in their church. Though his hearing had dimmed he was still vibrant, and of course he still golfed! And Eleanor was still the sweet gracious hostess.
Indeed, we will never forget them!
With our love,
Nina & Jim Fickes
Sharon Knepper Thiede
06/27/2009
Norm and I are thinking of you and praying for the family. What a celebration there must have been as they welcomed Don, "a good and faithful servant", home to Heaven. I know you will miss him. I have such wonderful memories of both he and Eleanor as I grew up in DM and also when they ministered in Richvale. I wish I could be there to give you a hug and celebrate his life.
Love to you all,
Sharon Thiede
Dennis & Ann Carlson
06/27/2009
Dear Denny, Sue and Charlene
Our deep aympathy to each of you Don is now with His Lord, His Dear
wife and many 0f His Friends,MANY OF THEM who He led to Love Jesus.
Ann and I have many special memories as we worked together in the
developement of Homewood. Don, your Love for Jesus Christ Was always
evident in personal contacts and in the busines of the Church.
Our daily prayer for Charlene, are added to each member of your
family.
May God use many wonderful memories to carry each of you during this
time. Our Faith is secure, and God is still in control.
We send ou Love, Dennis Annabelle Carlson
May God Bless You, 1036 Cellana Ct
Fort Myers, Fl. 33908
Jeff McDowell
06/26/2009
I am so sorry that I cannot be there this weekend. Pastor Don was simply a grand servant of God, and how he must be cherishing his reunion with Eleanor! His passion for Evangelism and introducing people to Christ really set the tone for those who would follow him at Indianola Heights EFC. I have thought about him many times during my time here as chaplain at the Evangelical Free Church Home in Boone. A true soul-winner and a warm and kind man... Thank You, Lord for his memory and service for You...
- Jeff McDowell
Marshall jensen
06/27/2009
When I think of Pastor Don Ortlund,
I think of one who served God from a full heart.
From a Full Heart
In this life we experience pain.
Its nothing for what we are to gain.
His grace sufficient we are told,
Is sought at Gods throne, be bold.
What is man that you are mindful of him,
The son of man that you care for Him? Ps 8:4
To sit and learn at Gods feet,
Will always be our biggest feat.
To practice faith, hope and love is our part,
When we serve God from a full heart.
To love God and serve Him is our call.
He is faithful and wont let us fall.
God brought us from darkness into the light.
Hope in Him gave us a future so bright.
O Lord, what is man that you care for him,
The son of man that you think about him? Ps 144:3
To sit and learn at Gods feet,
Will always be our biggest feat.
To practice faith, hope and love is our part,
When we serve God from a full heart.
Marshall Jensen
Jamie and Sandy Eiffert
06/25/2009
To the Ortlund Family,
We were sorry to hear about your Dad's passing, but we know he is with the Lord and free from all health issues.
Your Dad was our Pastor at Homewood when we lived in Moline, and dedicated our oldest son Troy. We have fond memories of your parents, and they both have served the Lord well. Jamie and Sandy Eiffert, Mt. Pleasant, Iowa
Steve & Carol Johnson
06/25/2009
Denny, Sue & Shar our deepest sympathy to you and all your families.
Oh what memories I have have of your Dad. A very, very special man to me and our family. I could write a book of all the wonderful thoughts which surface as I recall "Pastor Ort". He touched our family along with thousands of others over the years in so many special ways.
Can't you just see he and "Nor-Nor" holding hands as she shows him the "Streets of Gold"? Oh what a neat picture. Even better is the many he sees now that because of his faithfulness to our Lord and Savior they are also greeting him and thanking him for his leading them to our Savior. Brigitte greets him too and I am sure has a WMS question for him.
Our love to you all,
The Steve Johnson Family
Deb Smith
06/25/2009
Dear Sharlene and Family - On behalf of the Smith and entire Lance Family I would just like to express our loving sympathy to you all! Your father was truly a wonderful, God loving Devoted Husband, Father, Pastor, and Friend. We attended Homewood from 1973 and than he married my husband Mike and I in 1974 and went on to dedicate all four of our sons. My parents (Stan and Nola Lance) enjoyed many visits with them when they were living in Arizona. What a blessing to have an "Earthly Father" that likens his life to our Heavenly Father! I know you will all miss him dearly. Please know that you are all in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. What a great reunion took place in Heaven on June 23rd! Love to you all! Deb & Mike Smith