Orval Adolph Ulrich

The funeral service for Orval Ulrich, 83, of Canby, formerly of Minneota, will be at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 26, 2025, at First Lutheran Church in Marshall. A recording of the service will be available later on the church YouTube channel. Visitation will be Wednesday from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m., with a prayer service at 6:45 p.m., at the Horvath Remembrance Center in Marshall. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will follow at Hope Lutheran Cemetery in Minneota.

Orval Adolph Ulrich was born on June 26, 1941, in New Ulm, to Adolph and Evelyn (Hagberg) Ulrich. Orval grew up in Courtland and graduated from New Ulm High School in 1959. On November 6, 1961, Orval was united in marriage to Nancy Anfinson at Bethany Lutheran Church in Judson. The couple lived in Courtland after their marriage before moving to Pipestone, where Orval worked as the Public Works Director from 1973 until 1979. He also served on the Pipestone Fire Department. They moved to Minneota in 1979, then Colorado in 1985. They eventually moved back to Marshall to be closer to family, where Orval worked for the Schwan’s Engineering Department until his retirement in 2005. After retiring, Orval and Nancy spent winters in Mesa until 2018. They later moved back to Minneota, where they lived until Nancy’s death in 2021. Orval most recently lived at Sanford Sylvan Place Assisted Living in Canby.

Orval enjoyed spending time with family and friends, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He went on fishing trips to Canada with his son, sons-in-law, grandchildren, and friends. He began playing baseball at 14, making it to the state championship in high school, and he continued playing for 31 years. Orval also enjoyed watching the Twins, even when they were tough to watch. In his free time, Orval enjoyed hunting, golfing, and taking the family to the lake. Orval and Nancy made sure to make special time for their grandchildren, including road trips to Colorado and family trips to Florida and Arizona. They also enjoyed taking time many summers with friends at the Montana cabin and taking motorcycle rides. Orval enjoyed a good whiskey, allowing himself at least one glass a day until this past week. Orval’s family will remember his “Orval-isms,” particularly “I’m not happy with you.”

Orval died on Saturday, June 21, 2025, at the Sanford Sylvan Court Nursing Home in Canby. He is survived by his children Chris (Sabrina) Ulrich, Julie Swedzinski, and Michelle (Kevin) Buysse; grandchildren Nicole (fiance Andrew), Natasha (Patrick), Nathaniel (Hannah), Shaun (fiancee Amanda), Tara (fiance Taylin), Joshua (Megan), Branden, Nathan (Brooke), and Austin (Kennedy); great-grandchildren Ashlyn, Kinley, Hadley, Beckett, Harlow, Briar, Mykenzie, Barrett, Hayes, Baily, Clare, Cole, Brynlee, Westin, Rayna, Parker, and Baylor; brother Harold (Vivian) Ulrich, sister Susie (Gary) Zimmerman, brother-in-law Marvin Fiemeyer; as well as many other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Nancy, sister Kathryn Fiemeyer, and son-in-law Greg Swedzinski.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the American Heart Association.