David W. Orman

David Orman, 88, passed away peacefully in his home in Oak Harbor, Ohio, on Sunday, October 27, 2024 with family members present. Dave was born on October 1, 1936, in the family home in Harris Township, to Clara Hengvoss Orman and Emery Orman. He was the fifth of nine children. This large family grew up together in a small farmhouse, along with his German immigrant great-grandfather, Grandmother Hengvoss and teen-aged Aunt Edith Damschroder. He remembers bringing in the cows at night and gathering milk weed pods for life jackets during World War II. Times were not easy, and he learned the value of hard work, and an appreciation for the simple life, and the importance of family.

He graduated from Harris-Elmore High School in 1954 and worked a variety of labor jobs in the area. He met the love of his life, Mary Kosanka, at VanAtta’s restaurant in Oak Harbor. They fell in love and were married on March 17, 1956, at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Blackberry Corners, during a blizzard, and started a family together. They built a new house on family property along the Portage River in Harris Township, where he lived until his passing.

He began working for Henry W. Bergman, Inc., construction company in Genoa in 1959, and worked there until he retired. He was proud of his work for Bergman; the parking lots and roads built under his supervision. Before retirement, he and Mary began spending parts of the winter in Clearwater Beach, Florida, then in Dunedin. Once they both retired, they were fortunate to purchase a small property in Golden Acres in Dunedin, where he loved spending winters there, especially along the Honeymoon Island Causeway.

David was a hard worker, and proud of his home and family. He was a hobbyist gardener, woodworker, and a gifted mechanic. He was active at St. Paul United Church of Christ, Oak Harbor, where he served as a trustee and youth group advisor for many years.

He was preceded in death by his parents Clara and Emery Orman; siblings Richard Orman, Charles Orman, Helen Johnson, James Orman, Wilbur Orman, Gaylord Orman, and Lois Hartman, and daughter-in-law Deborah (Avers) Orman. In addition to his beloved wife Mary Orman, he is survived by loving children: Dan (Lori) Orman of Dayton, OH; Lynne (Mike) Keith of Cleveland, OH; Lisa (Jim) Hossler of Oak Harbor, and Dave (Holly) Orman of Northwood, OH; brother Robert (Marjory) of Fairhaven, Massachusetts; 11 grandchildren; four great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Graveside Services will be handled privately by the family in Elliston Cemetery, Elliston, OH under the direction of Crosser & Priesman Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Oak Harbor Chapel. In lieu of flowers, Memorial Contributions may be made to St. Paul United Church of Christ, 165 Toussaint St., Oak Harbor, OH 43449 or Hospice of Northwest Ohio, 30000 River Road, Perrysburg, OH 43551. The family is so appreciative of Hospice of Northwest Ohio for their compassionate and dignified care for Dave. Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.crosserpriesmanfuneralhome.com.