Joe Dell Orts

June 9, 1940 - April 5, 2022

Funeral services for Joe Dell Orts, 81 of Giddings, Texas are scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on Monday, April 11, 2022 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Giddings with Rev. Robert Tiner and Vicar Josh Hahn officiating. Burial will follow in the Giddings City Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Sunday, April 10, 2022 from 9:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. and on Monday, April 11, 2022 from 7:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. at Phillips and Luckey Funeral Home in Giddings. The family will be present for visitation Sunday evening from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Joe Dell Orts was born on June 9, 1940 in Paige, Texas to Earl Oscar Orts and Elfay Laura (Rachui) Orts. He was baptized on September 1, 1940 by Rev. A.C. Koeppe and confirmed on July 26, 1953 by Rev. Benedict Reck at St. John Lutheran Church in Paige. Joe graduated from Giddings High School in 1958 where he ran track and was a member of the state mile relay team. On February 20, 1960, he was united in marriage to Dorothy Jane Moerbe at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Giddings with Rev. Max Studtmann officiating. They were blessed with two daughters, Christine and Janna. Joe and Jane moved to Austin where Joe began working for the U.S. Postal Service in 1962. After moving back to Giddings in 1964, he transferred to the Giddings Post Office where he worked as a mail carrier until retiring in 1999 after 37 years of service. After retiring, Joe enjoyed working for Rockin J Farm Service and S & S Quality Coastal. He was a longtime member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Giddings where he served as an usher for many years. A lifelong resident of Lee County, Joe enjoyed farming, attending nearly every sporting event of his daughters and later his grandchildren, family trips to Rockport, polka music, hanging out with his friends from Manheim and Lincoln, and playing dominoes. He will be remembered as a hardworking man of habit and routine, who was smart, and had a quick-witted sense of humor. Joe passed away following a sudden illness the evening of Tuesday, April 5, 2022 in College Station. He was preceded in death by his parents, Earl Orts and Elfay & L.D. Mahlman; his wife, Jane Orts; two brothers, Delward Orts and Kervin Orts; his parents-in-law, Herbert & Irene Moerbe, and several aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. Joe is survived by his two daughters, Christine & Shannon Hunt of Giddings and Janna & James Nail of College Station; three grandchildren, Coy Hunt of Ft. Drum, NY, Ely Hunt of Giddings, and Bailey Nail of College Station; one sister-in-law, Judy & Albert Matthijetz of Giddings; one niece, Sharon & Ricky Proske of Giddings and their children, Sara & Bruce Prellop & their daughter, Hattie and Christopher & Katy Proske of Giddings; one nephew, Douglas & Inez Matthijetz of Corpus Christi and their children, Marisa Matthijetz and Isaac Mathijetz, as well as several cousins and many friends. Pallbearers will be Coy Hunt, Ely Hunt, Christopher Proske, Bruce Prellop, John Schimank, Billie Kieschnick, Tommie Kieschnick, Glen Orts, and Steve Wachsmann. Memorials may be made to the Immanuel Lutheran Church Ring the Bell Campaign, to Immanuel Lutheran School or to the charity of one’s choice. Arrangements by Phillips and Luckey Funeral Home in Giddings.