CRESSMAN, Orval Claude CRESSMAN

He is survived by his wife Jeannette (Snider) Cressman and their 3 children:
Gregory Cressman and Dorothy Isaac, Daniel and Jonathan;
Dale and Cheryl Brubacher-Cressman, Kiah and Gareth Hughes, Letitia and Ryan Hebel, Wesley and Eloise; and
Julie and Dan Glendinning, Jessica and Ian.

Also survived by Jeannette’s brother and sister-in-law James and Dianne Snider and their family. Remembered by his many nieces and nephews and their families.

Predeceased by his parents Edmund and May (Hunsberger) Cressman and his siblings Mildred and John Nafziger, Gladys and Howard Cressman, Leonard and Elaine (Gingerich), Rita (Steinman), Pearl and Lloyd Yantzi, and Verna and Edgar Gingerich.

Orval grew up on a dairy farm on the Huron Road just south of New Hamburg. Joining the 4H and Junior Farmers was a natural lead-in to starting his own farming career in 1960. To further his education, he attended Ontario Mennonite Bible School several winters at First Mennonite Church in Kitchener. He married Jeannette on June 18, 65 years ago. He was a successful farmer who raised a herd of top producing Holstein cows, along with beef cattle, chickens, pigs and rotating crops. In mid-career, he became a Realtor, selling farms and homes for the next 30 years.

Orval was a member of Biehn (now Nith Valley) Mennonite Church where he led singing, shared leadership for the Boys Club, played church league baseball and served on several committees. He sang in a male quartet, which competed several times at Junior Farmer’s competitions. He curled in an Industrial League for many years and, in later life, with the KW Clergy Curling Club, along with Jeannette, at Westmount Curling Club.

He enjoyed creating things: a speedy boat, several model airplanes, a gun cabinet and wood carvings. He looked forward to the fall Deer Hunt with neighbors, often having lunch on the back deck on Bean Road. He also enjoyed fishing, water skiing, and golfing.

The family enjoyed camping in the truck camper, visiting Expo ‘67 on the way to the East Coast, travelling to BC’s West Coast, and even spending Christmas in Florida one year. Jeannette and Orval cherished the cottage they built on Boy Lake just east of Parry Sound and are happy it has stayed in the family. He and Jeannette travelled to many beautiful and interesting places in later years, including several cruises.

The family want to thank the team on Emma’s Memory Care Neighbourhood, the nursing team and the many other staff at University Gates Retirement Village for their care and concern for Orval over the past year and especially the past month. Sincere thanks also to Paramed Home Health Care Services, the Palliative Care Team and Ontario Health at Home.

Relatives and friends will be received in the Mark Jutzi Funeral Home, 291 Huron St. New Hamburg on Sunday, September 7, 2025 from 2-5pm. Memorial service will be conducted at Nith Valley Mennonite Church on Monday, September 8, 2025 at 11:00am. Interment in the Church Cemetery. Lunch and reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations to House of Friendship or Elmira Community Care Concepts Alzheimer Program would be appreciated by the family. Personal condolences can be posted at www.markjutzifuneralhomes.ca