John Charles Orlich Sr.

The visitation and praying of the rosary will be January, 24 from 10 – 11:30am with a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:30am at St Gabriel Catholic Church, 4737 N Cleveland Ave, Kansas City, MO 64117, burial to follow at White Chapel Cemetery, 6600 NE Antioch Road, Gladstone, MO 64119, with reception afterward back at St Gabriel Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to be made to St. Gabriel Catholic Church.

John, Sr. was born at home in Armourdale, KS on June 18, 1925. He served in the Coast Guard during World War II from October, 1943 to April, 1946. He unconventionally used the GI bill to become an Arthur Murray Dance Studio instructor for a couple of years after the war. After that, he worked a few other jobs but then found steady employment at General Motors for over 41 years primarily as a forklift operator before he retired in 1990. He was very generous and was always there to help when needed.

He had a great sense of humor and was never afraid to poke fun at himself. He was the second youngest of nine children, all of whom predeceased him. He said when he was growing up they only had one bathroom and with six sisters it was nearly impossible for the three brothers to get in there. He had the green thumb when it came to plants and yard work and he really enjoyed it. The other thing he really enjoyed was playing tennis. He started actively playing tennis in his 60s and was still playing at 90 years old before he finally had to give it up.

He helped raise four children, Gary, Stephen, Rebecca and John, Jr. with his first wife, Lena (Sherrell) Orlich. Although he was divorced from Lena they remained good friends through the years. He was married to Lena for 25 years and 31 years to his second wife, Lucille (Brown) Orlich, who went by Sue.

He was predeceased by his father, Stephen Orlich, his mother, Iva Orlich, eight siblings, Ann Orlich, Helen Zasadny, George Orlich, Katherine (Katie/Sister Monica) Orlich, Joseph Orlich, Mary Perry, Virginia Dean and Rose (Sister Margurite) Orlich, child, Gary Orlich (Mae) and 2nd Wife, Lucille (Brown) Orlich. He is survived by his 1st Wife, Lena Orlich, children, Stephen Orlich (Mary Anne), Rebecca Helm (Gary) and John Orlich, Jr. (Babette), four grandchildren, Gary Orlich, Jr (LeaAnne), Nicoya Helm (Shawn Tolivar), Julie Hawkins (Charles) and Brian Orlich and four great grandchildren, Oskar Hawkins, Quenton Hawkins, Gavin Orlich and Savannah Orlich.