Dodge City - Orville Vanus Brehm, 94, died December 25, 2011 at Minneola Long Term Care Center. He was born on April 23, 1917 in Offerle, the son of Vanus H. and Emma Lee (Winkler) Brehm.

Orville attended District 37 in Edwards Country for eight years and graduated from Offerle High School and DCCC where he lettered in football. He married Helen Sisson on August 31, 1940 in Minneola, Kansas. She preceded him in death on April 9, 1998 in Dodge City. He later married Mary Ann Hornung Johnson on January 2, 1999 in Dodge City, she survives. He was a resident of Offerle until 1935 when he moved to Dodge City, where he lived his remaining life except for the years he served in the US Army. He served his country in WWII from 1944 to 1946 in the European, African, Middle Eastern Campaign and Asiatic Pacific Campaign, where he logged more than 30,000 miles at sea, where he was awarded a bronze star and rank of Sargent first class. Orville worked as a Real Estate Broker, Insurance agent and Senior Residential Appraiser. He owned and operated H.A. Hart & Co. and was a Director of Landmark Savings and Loan until 1993 when he retired.

He was a member of the First Christian Church of Dodge City, where he served as an elder for many years, trustee, superintendent of Sunday School and was a member of the Win-a-Couple Sunday school class which he served as president for several years. He was on the board of Directors of Boothill for 50 years. He also was a member of the Quarterback Club of DCCC and served as a president. He was a past president of the local Kiwanis Club and held an office in the International Kiwanis Organization. He was a founder of Southwest Kansas Chapter of Senior Residential Association and past president. Orville was a Life Member of Howard Gotschall Post #1714 VFW of Dodge City. He established a fund for Christmas gifts with the children and widows in the feeding program of Cosecha El Mundo in the Peten Jungle of Guatemala.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother Irvin and son-in-law Jeff Stevens.

He is survived by his wife Mary, five daughters Barbara Davison and husband Larry of Yukon, OK, Sue Rice and husband Floyd of Tulsa,OK and Marilyn Rexford and husband Buck of Meade, Marsha Rannabargar and husband Paul of Maysville, Missouri and Michele Stevens of Minneola, Kansas and a sister-in-law Irene Brehm of Offerle, ten grandchildren Brian Davison and wife Diane, Deborah Hickman and husband Brad, Melody Mussman and husband Dr. Jeff, Jon Rice and wife Denise, Tammy Harper and husband Russ, Clint Rexford and wife Courtney, Cami Torres and husband Armando, Zack Fairbanks, Chris Fairbanks, Nick Fairbanks, Kyle Stevens, Alicia Stevens and and fifteen great grandchildren and one great great grandchild.

Celebration of life will be held at First Christian Church on Thursday, December 29, 2011 at 1:00 PM with Dr. Phil Scott presiding. Burial with full military rites by Howard Gotschall Post #1714 VFW will follow at Maple Grove Cemetery in Dodge City. Visitation will be at Swaim Funeral Home on Wednesday, December 28, 2011from 12:00 to 8:00 PM, the family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 PM Wednesday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to First Christian Church or the Minneola Long Term Care Christmas Fund in care of the funeral home.