107 Years of Life, Wisdom and Wit

Orv Von Ehwegen of Sac City should be on the list of "people you need to know."

Did you hear about the 107-year-old World War II veteran from Sac City who joined the graduating class of East Sac County High School this past May to get his honorary diploma?

News articles that went around the globe noted how Orville “Orv” Von Ehwegen graduated from eighth grade during the Great Depression. Then his father informed the 14-year-old he’d have to stay home and work on the family farm. Orv would never attend high school.

I knew I had to meet Orv. A friend in Sac City connected me with Orv’s daughter, Pat, who was visiting her dad around Memorial Day weekend. Orv and Pat graciously invited me to stop by that Friday afternoon. We had a delightful visit on Orv’s sun porch, overlooking the backyard bird feeders.

We chatted a bit about how Senator Grassley and others had been calling to congratulate Orv. “It’s getting kind of old!” he joked. We also chuckled about how Orv was 89 when most of his fellow 2025 East Sac graduates were born.

While Orv received a standing ovation at graduation, I hope everyone there truly grasped what a treasure was right there in their midst.

Orville “Orv” Von Ehwegen, still smiling at 107 years young!

Remembering rural electrification

Orv, who was born August 21, 1917, grew up on a farm southwest of Sac City in Wall Lake Township. I rarely get to interview people with this much life experience, so I didn’t waste any time learning about his life history. I asked him about rural electricity on the farm.

His father, Karl, had installed a Delco battery plant on the farm. “There were a whole bunch of batteries—I mean a whole bunch of ‘em,” Orv said. The Delco plant was anchored to a cement block and had an exhaust system and a muffler. The 32-volt system could power one light in each room of the farmhouse, along with a couple lights in the barn, but you couldn’t have too many lights on at once, Orv noted.

When rural electrification came to the area, farm families could get a free yard light if they hooked up to the electric line. “I was glad we got 110-volt rural electricity,” Orv said. “That mean I didn’t have to carry that darn lantern out to the barn anymore. That was such a fire risk.”

Even with electricity, faming meant lots of hard, physical labor, especially for a young teenaged boy like Orv who was required to do a man’s wor

When the going gets tough, the tough get going

Things didn’t get any easier when Orv was drafted into the Army during World War 2. He was seconds from death when a Japanese bomber blew up the truck he was driving in New Guinea.

Orv served in the military from 1942 to 1945. After returning home to Sac County, he and his wife, Ruth, opened an appliance store in Sac City. The couple enjoyed 56 years together before Ruth died in 2003.

Through it all, Orv’s Christian faith is stronger than ever. “God’s still got a reason for keeping me here,” he said.

Orv has a remarkable story to share—and I’m glad he wrote it down!

Orv’s friends will tell you life hasn’t always been easy for Orv, yet he keeps smiling and remains positive. Makes me think of these words of wisdom I saw online:

“Some of the kindest souls I know have lived in a world that was not so kind to them. Some of the best human beings I know have been through so much at the hands of others, and they still love deeply, they still care. If that isn’t something to be in awe of, I don’t know what is.”

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