Donald Eugene Orth, 88, of Indianapolis, IN entered eternal life on August 1, 2015, after struggling with Parkinson’s disease for the last few years. He was blessed with a full life.

Don was born in Evansville, Indiana, on June 7, 1927, to Conrad and Catherine Orth. He heard the call of God in his life in his third year of high school, when he left home to join St. Meinrad Archabbey as a brother (Brother Nicholas), where one of his duties was tending the apple orchard. In 1953 the call of God changed the direction of his life, prompting him to leave St. Meinrad, just in time to be drafted into the army during the Korean War. He served as a chaplain’s assistant in Germany during his active duty.

After his military service ended, he captured headlines in both German and hometown newspapers by staying in Germany and working as a farm laborer, being curious about the farming practices used in the land of his ancestors. After that he returned to Indiana and began his college education. During his college years he met his future wife, Janet Seids. He graduated from Indiana University in 1959, and in 1960, Don and Jan were married.

To support his growing family, Don held a variety of jobs, including social work at a Christamore House and a state prison, professional work with the Boy Scouts of America, and sales at L.S. Ayres. After his retirement, he did maintenance work at his beloved parish, Saint Joan of Arc in Indianapolis.

In all those pursuits, the common thread was helping people. Don loved to work with young and old, trying to help them in any way he was able. He truly fed the hungry, gave drink to the thirsty, and clothed the naked. He visited the sick and imprisoned, sheltered the homeless, buried the dead, and gave alms to the poor.

Don was concerned not only with people’s corporal needs, but also their spiritual needs. He tried to spread the Good News of Jesus with everyone he met. This included co-workers and customers, scout troops, fellow parishioners, kids at the parish school, and the poor and lonely.

He had a great love for the outdoors, especially enjoying camping, hiking, canoeing, and hunting (more as an excuse to be out in the wilderness than for the game). He often dreamed about a very simple life of living off the land and communing with God. He sacrificed those dreams for the sake of his family.

In his retirement years, he was very active in the parish’s Boy Scout troop and RCIA program. He volunteered with the Saint Vincent de Paul Society, and he also was a Benedictine Oblate. His signature prayer was “Lord, help me to be what you want me to be.”

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Janet; his five children: son Dave and wife Beth, son Paul and wife Nancy, daughter Mary and husband Ken Strohm, daughter Julie and husband Ray Price, and daughter Carol Kozak; and his eight grandchildren: Tyler, Daniel, Tristan, Marianna, Cecilia, Joshua, Abigail, and Rebekah.

He is also survived by his brother Bob and wife Doris Ann of Indianapolis, his sister Mary Ann and husband John Gates of Houston, TX, and his brother Jim and wife Sarah of The Villages, FL.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, August 7, at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, 4217 N. Central Avenue in Indianapolis. Visitation will be held on Thursday, August 6, from 4 – 8 p.m. at Indiana Funeral Care and Crematory, Harry W. Moore Chapel, 8151 Allisonville Rd., Indianapolis. A rosary service will be held at 7 p.m.