Orion K. Kyllo

Orion K. Kyllo, 85, of Kenyon, formerly of Wanamingo, died Wednesday, December 28, 2011 at the Kenyon Sunset Home. The funeral service will be held on Saturday, December 31, 2011 at 11:00 AM at Trinity Lutheran Church in Wanamingo with Reverend Christopher Culuris officiating. Burial will be in Trinity Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Friday from 4:00 to 7:00 PM at the Mahn Family Funeral Home- Larson Chapel in Zumbrota and on Saturday one hour prior to the service at the church.
Orion Keith Kyllo was born on November 9, 1926 in Ellington Township, Dodge County, MN to Elmer C. and Eleanor (nee Brandli) Kyllo. He grew up in rural Wanamingo, attended country school and graduated from Wanamingo High School in 1944. In the later 1940's Orion started doing custom corn picking which turned into custom combining and continued doing this until 2002. On September 10, 1949 he married Idella L. Iverson in Wanamingo. They farmed inside the village limits of Wanamingo, for sixteen years. Later they purchased a farm in Roscoe Township and lived there for forty years. Orion and Idella moved into Wanamingo in March, 2003. Over the years Orion and Idella loved to travel together. Idella died on March 9, 2010. Orion was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, where he served on the church council, held various offices and was active in the choir and cemetery board. Orion also served on the board of the Wanamingo Elevator Company, Goodhue County REA for many years and was President of the Goodhue County Farmers Union for many years. He enjoyed fishing and deer hunting, especially in Marcell.
Orion is survived by his children, Leslie (Cheryl) Kyllo of Goodhue, David (Shellie) Kyllo of Eagan, Jeffrey (Kathy) Kyllo of Rochester and Janet (Brian) Gunderson of Richfield; nine grandchildren, Leann (Luke) Kyllo, Brandon (Shannon) Kyllo, Anna (Ryan) Miller, Billy (Amanda) Kyllo, Susie Kyllo, Brady Kyllo, Kelli Kyllo, Josh (Lyndsay) Busby and Tyler Lohmann; four step-grandchildren, Chad and Wade Gunderson and Anna and Samantha Hughes; four great-grandchildren, Hunter and Hallie Busby, Benjamin Miller and Rory Peterson; two brothers, Maurice "Bud" (Edith) Kyllo of Wanamingo and Charles (Donna) Kyllo of Owatonna; six sisters, Avis Erlanson of Wanamingo, Marlene (James) Haller of Phoenix, AZ, Mary (Dennis) Schmitz of New London, Eunice (Bill) Roberts of Maplewood, Susan (Dale) Johnson of Sun City West, AZ, and Stella (Stu) Morton of Sun City West, AZ; two sisters-in-law, Mavis Kyllo and Margaret "Peg" Kyllo, both of Wanamingo and many nieces and nephews.
Orion was preceded in death by his wife, Idella, parents, brothers, Palmer, Marvin "Pete", and Walton Kyllo; sisters, Florence Howie, Shirley Schmitz and an infant sister, Marna Kyllo.
Memorials are preferred to Trinity Lutheran Church or Trinity Lutheran Cemetery.