Orval “Don”‘s Obituary Orval Donald Forney, 82, of Hornick, Iowa, passed away in his home January 24, 2019. A celebration of life service will be held at 10:30 am at the United Methodist Church in Hornick, on Monday, January 28, 2019 with Pastor Catie Newman and Pastor Karen Handke officiating. Burial will be at Little Sioux Township Cemetery in Smithland.
A visitation will be held at the United Methodist Church in Hornick between 5 and 8 pm, Sunday, January 27, 2019. The family will be present from 6 to 8 pm and there will be a prayer service at 7 pm. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials be given to the United Methodist Church in Hornick or the United Church of Christ in Rodney.
Online condolences may be expressed at www. meyerbroschapels.com Don was born February 23, 1936 in Sioux City Iowa, and grew up on a farm near Obert, Nebraska. Donnie later moved to Hornick, Iowa, and graduated from high school in Hornick in 1953.
Donnie married Gracia Aldrich June 9, 1957 in Rodney, Iowa. Donnie and Gracia were married for almost 62 years and lived most of their lives in the home Don built near Rodney on the Aldrich-Cleveland family farm. Donnie enjoyed music, especially singing in church and gospel groups, and loved sharing his talents entertaining residents of Pleasant View Nursing home.
Donnie also enjoyed coffee and visiting with his friends and always had a story to tell. Some of those stories were even true. Don worked a number of jobs over the years, usually choosing to work outside building things.
In early years, Donnie worked on construction operating heavy equipment on a variety of sites including construction of Interstate 29. Most of his life Don worked as a carpenter and owned his own business constructing and remodeling homes. Throughout most of his career, Don was involved in all aspects of home building: carpentry, cabinet making, electrical, plumbing and heating.
In later year,s Don worked for a few years as a sales representative for AY McDonald in Omaha and as an electrical engineer for GOMACO in Ida Groove. Donnie is survived by his wife Gracia; son Greg and wife Julie of Spirit Lake, Iowa; daughter Teresa Keehn and husband Terry of Salem, South Dakota; grandchildren Brian Forney and wife Olivia of Athens, Alabama; Nicholas Forney of Spirit Lake, Iowa; Kelly Keehn and wife Brandi of Tea, South Dakota; Alex Keehn and wife Beth of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Nathan Forney of Tucson, Arizona; Logan Keehn and girlfriend Kristen Karabush-Lopez of Manitowoc, Wisconsin; Audra Keehn Bertram and husband Austin of Parkston, South Dakota; and great-grandchildren Tristan Forney, Caden Keehn, Kevonte Keehn, Clara Forney, Foster Forney, Tamaya Keehn, and Grayson Keehn. Don is preceded in death by his parents Orval and Annie (Clift) Forney; brothers Bernard, Roy, Ardel “Buster”, and David; and sisters Frances, Mary Alice, and Norma Jean.
Meyer Brothers Morningside Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
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