Orval E. Harms

Orvil E. Harms, 91, of Grover, Colorado, died at Kimball Health Services on Saturday, July 8, 2023. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m on Thursday, July 13, 2023 at the Grace Lutheran Church in Pine Bluffs, Wyoming, with Pastor Lincoln Winter officiating. Burial will be in the Pine Bluffs Cemetery with Military Graveside Honors. Friends may call at the funeral home on Wednesday from 1:00 until 6:00 p.m. to leave cards and sign the register book.

Friends may also visit http://www.cantrellfh.com to leave condolences and stories for the family. Memorials may be given in Orvil's memory to the Zion Lutheran Church in Grover. The services for Orvil have been entrusted to the Cantrell Funeral Home.

Orvil Ernest Harms was born in Ft. Morgan, Colorado, on September 13, 1931, the son of Ernest and Meta (Thieman) Harms. In the early 1940s, the family moved to southwestern Kimball County, before purchasing a farm in Weld County, Colorado. The children went to District 35 school while in Nebraska and after moving to Colorado to Morning Star school in Colorado until the school closed. He was called to serve in the U.S. Army during the Korean War as a Medic. 

Following his discharge he returned home and farmed with his dad and brother Leonard and drove school bus for the Pine Bluffs Schools. Orvil was married to Donna Mae Swanson at Zion Lutheran Church on October 6, 1957. The family moved to the original family farm in 1966 and he farmed with his brother Leonard until 1980. He continued farming until the time of his death. Orvil enjoyed many things in his life that included restoring old tractors and square dancing with his wife, camping and playing cards. His true love was his family. He served on the Grover School Board for 13 years. He will be missed by many.

Survivors include his wife of 66 years Donna Mae Harms of Grover, CO; sons Daniel Harms of Grover, CO., and Brian (Penny) Harms of Kimball, NE; daughter Brenda (Doug) Birlingmair of Greeley, CO; grandchildren Corey Werner, Tara (Kevin) Wolfe, Kaleb Harms and Emily Harms; great grandchildren Jaelynn Harms and Bentley Harms.

He was preceded in death by his parents, son David Lee Harms, brother Leonard Harms, sisters Norma Kranz, Deloris Constable and Lorene Christensen; and 2 nieces.