Orpha V. Ulm Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Funeral service for Orpha V. Ulm age 99 will be held on Friday, January 30 at 11:00 a.m. at St. John Lutheran Church in Melcher. Burial will follow in the Pleasantville Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church. Memorials may be made to St. John Lutheran Church. Mason Funeral Home of Pleasantville is handling arrangements and online condolences may be left at bertrandfuneralhomes.com. Orpha V. Ulm passed away on January 27, 2015 at the Westview Care Center in Indianola at the age of 99 years and 11 months. She was born February 18, 1915 in Pella, Iowa the daughter of Mathys and Hermina (Van Helten) Van Ryswyk. She grew up in the Pella and Pleasantville areas. Orpha was united in marriage to Jake Langstraat in 1940. They ran dairy farms in Pella and Runnells. They later moved to Des Moines where Orpha was a secretary for Lister Manufacturing. She was united in marriage to Hubert Ulm in 1965, and they owned and operated a lake resort in Minnesota. They later retired to Mesa, Arizona where they lived for over 20 years. Because of ill health, Orpha returned to Pleasantville in 2004 to be near her family. She was the beloved “Aunt Orpha” to many nieces and nephews as well as a host of friends. Her love of music, dancing and “good jokes” will always be remembered by those who knew and loved her. Orpha always had a smile on her face and time to visit with her family and friends. Her home in Arizona was a stopping place for many Iowans who headed to the warmer climate during winter. A lady of many talents including cooking, needlework and handcrafts, Orpha was also an excellent seamstress. She generously shared her beautiful and unique gifts with friends and family. Orpha was much loved by her family and friends. She loved her Lord and family and friends so very much. Relatives looked to her for her wisdom and uplifting spirit. “Love Thou one another as Christ has loved you” was her motto. She is survived by her sister, Mildred (Victor) Maeschen of Knoxville; brother, Willard Van Ryswyk of Pleasantville; nieces, nephews, a step-daughter and 6 step-grandchildren. In addition to her parents and husbands, she was preceded in death by her brothers: Tonie, Dick, Marion, James and Donald and her sister, Jennie Slykhuis.

Orpha V. Ulm

February 18, 1915 - January 27, 2015