Anthony Orhelein's Obituary
Anthony Eugene Orhelein, age 89, of Selbyville, DE, died Sunday, December 28, 2014 at home with his family. He was born October 22, 1925 in Jamaica, NY, son of Anthony and Theresa (Maguire) Orhelein.
The oldest of three children, Anthony was big brother to Bill (now deceased) and to his sister, Marilyn, who only reluctantly shared him when he got married.
He served in the Marine Corps during WWII in the Solomon's, Eniwetok Atoll, Marshall Islands and Okinawa from 1943 – 1945. He re-enlisted twice and was discharged honorably both times. He served in reconnaissance and his last rank was Sergeant.
Anthony was known as "Dutch" or "Wild Eyes" to his Marine Corps buddies, Tony to the Fire Department and Sonny to his parents. Mom called him a lot of things. She loved him so much.
In 1948, he met and fell in love with Ann Marie Brown and they were married April 15, 1950. They moved from New York to Washington, DC where he joined the DC Fire Department in July 1950 and was appointed to Engine 14. Anthony and Ann had also resided in Kensington, MD.
While working for the Fire Department he raised a family of five children. He shared his love of the water and fishing with the kids, though the girls preferred not to bait the hook themselves. We would often go fishing and boating in Seneca, MD at Riley’s Lock, or crabbing at Drum Point. In his not too much spare time, he played games with the kids. And not only his kids, but he would invite the neighborhood kids as well to play curb ball or stick ball in the street. It was safer then.
When he retired as a Lieutenant from Engine 9 in 1974, Anthony and Ann relocated to Fenwick Island, DE. Anthony would then serve 10 years with the Rehoboth Police Department as a Dispatcher.
Anthony was widowed in 2008 after 58 years of marriage to Ann. He sorely missed her. He is survived by his five children, Kathy, Michael, Mark, Jim and Mary. He was also blessed with seven grandchildren, Stephen, Cameron, Megan, Christopher, Ryan, McKenzie and Keegan.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1 PM on Saturday, January 3, 2015 at St Ann’s Catholic Church, 691 Garfield Parkway, Bethany Beach, DE, where friends may visit beginning at 11 AM.
Interment will be held the following week at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, 32112 Vines Creek Road, Dagsboro, DE 19939.
Please omit flowers. The family suggests memorial contributions be made to a local Alzheimer’s chapter (Alzheimer's Association, 108 N Bedford St, Georgetown, DE 19947) or a local Lions Club (Lord Baltimore Lions Club, P.O. Box 525, Ocean View, DE 19970).
Please sign Anthony's online guestbook at this site.
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