Regina (Regenbrecht) Orskog, 75, of Kirksville, Missouri, passed away Wednesday (August 27, 2014) at her home.

Regina was born on January 31, 1939 in Heiligenbeil, East Prussia, which was part of Germany at the time. She was the fifth of six children.

In early 1945 her family had to evacuate their country by sea as the Red Army approached. Her mother took her six children, and only what they could carry, and fled their home. At the time her father was serving in the German army after being drafted in his 40’s.

They settled in Western Germany near Cochem. In 1959 she met airman Second Class Richard Orskog while he was serving in the U.S. Air Force. They were married on February 27, 1960 in Germany.

They returned to Fort Dodge, Iowa. There they had three children. In 1969 they moved to Muscatine, Iowa and then in 1972 to Kirksville, Missouri. In 1973 they opened the KFC which they operated for twenty years.

Regina was active in the Mary Immaculate Catholic Church of Kirksville. She did volunteer work for Right to Life, and attended Bible study. One of her passions was her garden. She loved being in her yard and it was admired by many. She was rewarded for having Yard of the Year.

Her biggest passion was her grandchildren. She was a strict but fair German “Oma”.

Regina was also very physically active. She enjoyed walking and led a ladies water aerobics class at the Aquatic Center for several years. Regina traveled extensively, traveling to Germany often to visit her family. She also visited Poland, China, Turkey, Greece, Sicily, Norway and many other places.

Regina is survived by her three children, Dr. Richard V. Orskog and wife Rose and their two children, Richard Orskog and Samantha Orskog and her husband Kyle, Dr. Deborah Ohlhausen and husband, Dr. Ward Ohlhausen, and their two sons, Marc and Daniel, and Dr. Michael Orskog and wife Melinda and their two children, Lillian and Owen. She is also survived by her siblings, one brother and sister-in-law, Peter and Helga Regenbrecht of Germany, and three sisters and two brothers-in-law, Elisabeth and Eberhard Zwiener, Hanna and Toni Lurtzener and Brigitte Regenbrecht.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard “Dick” E. Orskog; parents Paul and Luzia (Marx) Regenbrecht and two brothers, Paul and Bruno Regenbrecht.

Public visitation will be held Sunday (August 31, 2014) with family receiving friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the chapel of Travis-Noe Funeral Home in Kirksville. A prayer service with recitation of the rosary will also be held Sunday evening at 7:30 p.m. in the chapel of the funeral home.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11:00 a.m. Monday (September 1, 2014) at Mary Immaculate Catholic Church in Kirksville, with Father Chris Cordes officiating.

Private family burial will be held Tuesday (September 2, 2014) at the Missouri State Veteran’s Cemetery in Jacksonville, Missouri.

Pallbearers will be Richard O. Orskog, Marc Ohlhausen, Daniel Ohlhausen, Kelly Lyons, Bill King and Terry Findling. Honorary pallbearers will be Dave Young, Larry Kist, Larry Smith, James Harmon, Denis Hagen, Wayne Edgerton and Owen Orskog.

Expressions of sympathy in memory of Regina Orskog may be made to Boone Hospital Foundation Supportive Care Program. Memorials may be left at or mailed to Travis-Noe Funeral Home, P.O. Box 306, Kirksville, MO 63501.