Orville Vilas Dahl, age 101, died on Saturday, November 23, 2024 in the Grand
View Care Center in Blair.

Orville was born on December 20, 1922 in Holcombe Coulee, rural Arcadia to
Bennie and Gena (Sandaker) Dahl. He married Delores Koepke on December 23,
1945 in Strum. Delores preceded Orville in death in 1983.

Orville was employed with the town of Hale in road maintenance for 26 years
prior to his retirement in 1974.

Orville was well known for his fiddle playing and was an original member of the
Rhythm Playboys for over 50 years. He played for countless dances, weddings,
and other social events throughout Wisconsin and the Midwest. He was a
musical encyclopedia and player of old time music and fiddle tunes that he had
in his head and under his fingers. You could never have too much fiddle in the
band according to Orville. He was a proud old country Norwegian who played
Norwegian fiddle tunes, spoke Norwegian, made lefse, and hung the Lord's
Prayer written in Norwegian in his kitchen. If there was a better mousetrap to be
built, he could figure it out as he was creative and inventive, always thinking
outside the box and often taking something out of nothing to fix a problem or
make something better. He took pride in his craftsmanship, whether it was his
skills as a tailor, welder, inventor, woodworker, or musician. His sense of humor
was infectious. He would make you laugh with his instant limericks and rhymes
as he himself would laugh with a twinkle in his eye. Orville enjoyed a Bud Light
or two now and then and had a competitive spirit in him. He didn't like to lose in
horseshoes, be outfished, outhunted, or outplayed. Everyone would agree that
Orville lived a full life of almost 102 years and was sharp as could be. He was
fortunate to have Mavis Mitskogen as his companion and friend as they resided
in Blair. He will be missed by many, but Orville left us with such a great family,
numerous historical accounts, memories, inventions, photos, and music to be
remembered with.

Orville is survived by two sons, Vilas (Carol) Dahl of Galesville and Gerald
"Jerry" (Donna) Dahl of Trempealeau; a daughter, Marion (Allen) Rawson of
Hoffman Estates, IL; seven grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren, four
great-great-grandchildren and two brothers, Robert Dahl of Vinton, IA and
Howard Dahl of Waterloo, IA.

In addition to his parents and wife, Orville was preceded in death by three
brothers, Elmo, Clifford and Elwood and three sisters, Geneva Thompson,
Lucille Bidney and Eileen Dahl.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, November 30, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. in the
Grace Lutheran Church in Pleasantville with Mr. Scott W. Brown, SAM,
officiating. Burial will be in the Lincoln Cemetery in Whitehall.

Visitation will be Friday, November 29, 2024 from 4-6 p.m. in the Jack Funeral
Home in Whitehall and also one hour prior to the service at the church on
Saturday.