Orpha H. Emkes passed away peacefully on November 10, 2025. She was born April 15,1924 in Westbrook, Minnesota to the late Ernest and Bertha (Bloch) Rachuy. She was baptized May 4,1924 and confirmed in September 5,1937 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Westbrook. She attended public schools in Rosehill Township and graduated from Westbrook High School, class of 1942. She attended Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa studying secretarial work and was later employed at Rath Packing Company in Waterloo, Iowa and Trinity Lutheran Church in Westbrook as church secretary.
She married Bernard Emkes on June 9,1946 and they were married nearly 74 years until his death in March 2020.
She was a charter member of Zion Lutheran Church in Seymour, Indiana having served as a Sunday school teacher, choir member, altar guild, LWML, Zions women’s fellowship, Christ Care and Bible Study groups, and assisted with the Friendship Bible Class. She and her husband, Ben, were instrumental in starting Zion’s Oktoberfest Apple Dumpling project including the recipe. She enjoyed reading, spending time with family, cooking and baking for family and friends, visiting shut ins and did an extensive amount of traveling throughout the world with her husband. She also enjoyed attending her children and grandchildren’s school activities and sporting events.
She is survived by her children Dr. Bernard (Marta) Emkes, Joan (Dr. William) Whitaker, Mark (Conchi) Emkes, Sandra (Michael) Burroughs, Michael (Cindy) Emkes, Jane (Paul Schlesinger) Emkes, and Jana (Scott) Gray; fourteen grandchildren, Cory (Samantha) Emkes, Andrew (Lisa) Whitaker, Brandon (Katy) Emkes, Jonathan (Louise) Whitaker, Joseph (Michaela) Whitaker, Allison (Chuck) Garmon, Joshua (Kelli) Emkes, Sarah (Johnny) Humphrey, Jonathan (Sarah) Emkes, David (Renee) Burroughs, Astrid (Martin) Everkes, Tyler (Jamie) Gray, Lindsey Gray, and Anna Emkes; and 23 great grandchildren, Trevor, Addison, Ali, Caroline, Liam, Hayden, Silas, Carter, Teagan, Camden, Prexley, Rose, Frieda, Henry, Parker, Frances, Ella, Katherine, Jackson, Wesley, Kayla, Kylie, and one due in February; and many nieces and nephews.
Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by her son John, parents, three sisters, one brother and their spouses.
All obituary information has been taken from the funeral home, newspaper or other online resource.
Share