Obituary of Larre Lee Orebaugh

Larre Lee Orebaugh, 82, of Cloquet passed away November 16, 2023. Larre was born November 24, 1940, in Cincinnati, Ohio to Lawrence Jesse Orebaugh and Marie Edna Cronin. Larre Orebaugh served a career in the United States Air Forces on active duty for 26 years.  Retired at the highest enlisted rank of a Chief Master Sergeant/E-9. His military decorations and medals included: Bronze  Star, National Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with three devices, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with one device, Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters and Air Force Commendation Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters.  

 

Larre was a loving husband, father and became known most affectionately as “Pappy” to his grandkids and great grandkids. His bold heart was reserved for those he loved and he could be counted on to always show up, whether it be on the other end of the phone line, in the audience at a sporting event or performance, or seated in his chair, across from you in the living room.  

 

Larre found great joy in time spent outdoors and sharing the simplicity of nature with those he loved. Not shy with his company, you could count on Larre for a well-told story or a perfectly timed, sly comment. In the rhythm of a voice, only reserved for a Pappy, lessons were taught to those he loved during early morning coffee at the hunting shack, late nights walking down to the river with fishing poles in hand, and if you were lucky enough, sitting around his dining room table with a deck of cards.

 

Larre approached life with a sense of adventure and willingness to always try his hand at something new, often with his side-kick willing wife, Julia. He would tell you from an early age that he learned that mischief wasn’t necessarily something he knew how to avoid—if anything, a lesson might be learned. In his 60s he rode his motorcycle, solo, from Minnesota to Alaska. Later, in his 70s, he took his ventures to the sky, flying his ultralight airplane—wearing that mischievous grin from his childhood. Larre also embraced hobbies of the more delicate kind, from consistent journaling to writing poetry to painting to daily bible studies, Larre’s life was abundant in art and brimming with meaning found in the small details that could be lost on some.

 

Larre was greatly loved and will be dearly missed by his wife, Julia; sister, Elaine; children, Laura, Stan (Lisa), Marie (Todd) and Bill (Reina); grandchildren, Aili (Chase), Julia (Charlie), Nathan (Caroline) and Todd; niece, Susan; nephew, Kevin; great grandchildren, Henry, Alice, Clark and Dorothy; and the family and friends he held so close to his heart.  

 

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make donations to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.

 

Per Larre's wishes there will be no services at this time. A spring burial is being planned at the Minnesota Veteran's Cemetery in Saginaw. Arrangements entrusted to Atkins Northland Funeral Home, 801 14th Street, Cloquet, MN 55720. To sign the guest book and leave an online tribute, see www.atkinsnorthlandfuneralhome.com. 

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