Sandra (Sandy) Orf

Sandra (Sandy) Orf , age 66, of Bowling Green, died Sunday, July 20, 2014 at Country View Nursing Home in Bowling Green following a long illness. A funeral mass for Sandra Lee Orf will be held 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, July 23, 2014 at the St. Clement Catholic Church with Father Lou Dorn officiating. Visitation will be held from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. on July 22, 2014 at the Mudd-Veach Funeral Home in Bowling Green. She was born April 7, 1948 in Bowling Green the daughter of James and Vera Nelson Orf. She graduated from Bowling Green High School in 1966 and worked at IGA and Western Union in St. Louis prior to her marriage. She later worked as an LPN at Sunset Nursing Home and Tievoli Hills before leaving for health reasons. Survivors include two children and their spouses, Tyson and Ashlee Geissert of St. Louis and Heather and Dewayne Francis of Bowling Green, Sierra, Alexis, Trenton, and Sophie Geissert of St. Louis; five sisters, Paula Hester of Ottumwa, Iowa; Pamela O’Donnell of Phoenix, Arizona, Barbara Shinn of Bowling Green; Shari Tullock of Troy; and Valerie Edwards of Chattanooga, Tennessee; five brothers Duane Orf and Dwight Orf of New Hartford and Jeff Orf, Scott Orf of Bowling Green, and Aaron Orf of Centralia; two sister-in-laws, Ellen Orf of Bowling Green, and Tammy Orf of New Hartford; three brother-in-laws, David Hester of Ottumwa, Iowa; Rick O’Donnell of Phoenix, Arizona; and Joseph Edwards of Chattanooga, Tennessee; other survivors include 10 nieces, 9 nephews, 17 great nieces and nephews, and 46 first cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, James and Vera Nelson Orf; two siblings, Ronald Dale Orf and Patricia Ilene Orf; aunts, Thelma Koester, Rose Ann Niemeyer, Retha Nelson, and Lucy Skillman; uncles, Truman and Ezra Orf, Ivan, Glen, and Gale Nelson and first cousins, Willene Koester Hearn, Jerry Koester, Shirley Orf, Mike Mudd, Harold and Denton Skillman, Larry Orf and Lisa Nelson. During her lifetime Sandy loved dancing and was good at the “jitterbug” which she mastered by tagging along with her dad when he and the Orf Brothers’ Band played music at various dance clubs and weddings. She also loved music especially Elvis and Alan Jackson; although being a product of the sixties, she knew all the words to most of the “oldies”. Those who knew Sandy well could also attest to her being a “fanatical” and vocal St. Louis Cardinals fan. She also enjoyed yard work and sitting on her front porch swing in the spring and summer. Being the oldest of 13 children, she became the person to go to if you needed to get something off your chest. Everyone agrees that “listening” was one of her most appreciated attributes. She was very patient and she rarely, if ever, complained, and she never judged; however, it wasn’t uncommon to hear her say “what a dumb (bleep) thing to do.” Her siblings and nieces and nephews, when they heard she was dying, all said, “Who are we going to call now? Nobody listens and makes it all better than sister or Aunt Sandy”. She also had a dry sense of humor and was a terrific story teller. Nobody could make you laugh harder. She loved life in spite of the fact that she spent most of it in pain and suffering from serious medical maladies. However, in spite of all her troubles, she rarely whined about all her health issues. She could be stubborn though, especially if you tried to get her to the doctor. Most of the time, she only went under protest, complaining all the way there. Family could be heard saying “You take her; no you take her; let’s ask Vivian and Kenny Lee to take her,” but whoever took her always warned the medical personnel that she was not a good patient, which was an understatement. Sometimes when she came to after surgery or an episode, she would ask, “was I nice?” We usually shook our head in defeat. Sandy was just being Sandy. Everyone who knew her though knew that giving her a cup of coffee could make it all better. She and mom could sit together for hours enjoying “real” coffee and each other’s company. Add spending time with her beloved grandchildren, her siblings, good friends, and trips to Lake Thunderhead, and she was a happy woman. She was a special lady, and she will be sorely missed. Rest in peace beloved mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, friend; you have earned it. Gift bearers will be her daughter-in-law Ashlee Geissert, son-in-law Dewayne Francis, and granddaughters, Sierra and Alexis Geissert. Lector will be cousin, Shelba Northcutt. Vocalists cousin, Gary Orf and niece, Kayla Moore will sing “Angels Among Us,” On Eagles Wings,” “In the Garden”, “Amazing Grace”, and “High on the Mountain.” Pallbearers will be her nephews, Ashley Holtsman of Ottumwa, Iowa; Dustin Tullock of St. Charles, Travis Shinn of St. Louis; Jason Orf of Bowling Green; Drew Orf of Bowling Green, and Cole Shinn of Chesterfield. Prior to the funeral service, a special tribute was delivered by brother-in-law Joseph Edwards on behalf of Sandy’s 2 children, 4 grandchildren, and 10 brothers and sisters. A special tribute written by the nieces and nephews was delivered by niece, Alaina O’Donnell.. Memorials may be made to the Saint Clement Cemetery in care of Mudd Veach Funeral Home, 606 West Main Street, Bowling Green, MO 63334.