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Peter Orum

December 4, 1941 - October 17, 2024

Peter Orum Peter Orum
  • VISITATION
    November 12, 2024 | 10 a.m. – Noon Midwest Companies Employees only

    2-4:00 p.m. All guests welcome

    6-8:00 p.m. All guests welcome
  • Yurs Funeral Home
    405 E Main St
    St. Charles, IL 60174
  • Funeral Service with Eucharist
  • November 13, 2024 | 10:00 a.m.            
  • Bethlehem Lutheran
    1145 N 5th Ave
    St. Charles, IL 60174

    Dinner Reception & Sharing of Eulogies
    November 13th | 12:00 p.m.   
    St. Charles Country Club
    1250 Country Club Rd
    St. Charles, IL 60174
    The venue is limited to 300 guests
  • Burial Location
    Private

“Life is Not Always Easy, But it is Always Interesting.”

Peter Orum, 82, died on Thursday, October 17, at his home in St. Charles, Illinois, after a four-month battle with a complex and rare form of lymphoma. Peter entered into hospice care on September 23rd and was surrounded by family and friends from that time until his passing.

Peter was born on December 4, 1941, in Søborg, a suburb of Copenhagen, Denmark. He spent his early days doing chores in his father’s small nursery, working for a neighboring farm, and bicycling around northern Denmark with his favorite cousins. He was a strong academic student in his eight years of compulsory formal education in Denmark, but he also enjoyed the challenge of woodworking and other practical trade skills which served him well throughout his life, especially in finding solutions to the challenges of growing plants in containers.

Following grade eight, Peter entered a Horticulture Apprenticeship program at the Spejlborg Nursery in Brønderslev, Denmark. The nursery was an hour’s bicycle ride from home, “depending on the direction of the wind”.  He went on to study at Vilvorde Horticulture School, which at that time was west of Copenhagen.

In 1961, he enlisted in the Danish Army and worked to become a Lieutenant in one of the Engineer regiments; he was also a military driving instructor. His appreciation of military vehicles later led him to assemble a collection of vintage military vehicles, which he enjoyed driving in local parades and on tours of the nursery properties. As an Army Engineer, he was assigned to build the famous British “Bailey” bridges in Denmark; he used that experience to erect several bridges of this type on the Midwest properties in the United States many years later.

In 1965, Peter boarded a ship and sailed across the rugged North Atlantic Ocean to the United States to gain work experience at the D. Hill Nursery in Dundee, Illinois; there he honed his growing and construction skills. He soon met his future wife, Irma, and on February 4, 1967, Peter married Irma Bodil Hertzmann at St. James Episcopal Church in West Dundee, Illinois. They celebrated 52 years of marriage together. As a team, they founded and built the Midwest Companies in the horticulture industry, including Midwest Groundcovers LLC and Midwest Trading Inc. 

As the companies grew, so did Peter’s involvement in community, civic, cultural, and professional organizations, both local and international. He served in leadership roles for horticultural organizations, including the Illinois Green Industry Association (now joined with the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association), the American Nursery & Landscape Association (now AmericanHort), the International Plant Propagators Society, and the Horticultural Research Institute, among others. Awards, recognition, and commendations from these groups in his honor are numerous.  He continued to foster collaborative horticulture relations between Denmark and the United States through his leadership and commitment to APlant with the Norðîc® brand.  Peter truly was an icon in the nursery industry both at home and abroad.

Peter held dual citizenship in Denmark and the United States, and celebrated both countries and cultures. He was instrumental in the Rebild Society, which holds an annual Fourth of July celebration in Denmark; was a board member of the Danish American Language Foundation; co-founder of the Scandinavian Club; and was also a long-time supporter and contributor to the Danish Home in Chicago, and the Museum of Danish America in Iowa.

He was an esteemed and active community member, serving on numerous committees over the decades.  Since 1965, he has been a devout member of St. James Episcopal Church in West Dundee, where he contributed through vestry service, finance leadership, buildings and grounds committee leadership, and served as usher and greeter most Sundays when he was in town.

He was a voracious reader, an outstanding student of history and geography, and was highly informed about, and engaged in, politics.  He was a lifelong Republican and tireless supporter of Immigration Reform; he visited Washington DC often to meet with government representatives to campaign for small business, agriculture, and most especially immigration reform countless times.

During the pandemic, Peter determined that he would write his memoirs and in 2022, he published, People, Plants & Politics, which can be obtained here:  https://www.midwestgroundcovers.com/blog/people-plants-and-politics/ 

When asked once how he got everything done, and still had time for more meetings and conferences and board memberships, family and business, Peter answered, “I do not watch television.”

He was a respected employer who expected the best efforts and continuous growth of his employees — and always found ways to appreciate and celebrate their work and the company’s milestones.  His wisdom was vast, and he was a natural teacher, and was always coaching and training those around him on anything from plant propagation to how to speak and communicate effectively, in order to be understood.

Peter was a beloved husband, parent, grandfather and uncle. He is survived by his daughter, Christa (Craig) Orum-Keller, and grandchildren Christian Keller and Lydia Orum-Keller; his sister, Elisabeth Dam; niece Karen Dam and nephew Anders Dam. He was preceded in death by his parents Lydia & Palle Ørum; son, Stig Peter Orum; and wife, Irma Bodil Orum.

The Visitation will be held at Yurs Funeral Home in St. Charles https://www.yursfuneralhomes.com/obituaries/st-charles/ and Funeral Services will be held at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in St. Charles https://www.bethlehemluth.org/ 

Tuesday November 12, 2024 – Visitation at Yurs Funeral Home, 405 E Main St, St. Charles, IL 60174

  • 10 a.m. – Noon       Midwest Companies Employees only
  • 2-4:00 p.m.             All guests welcome
  • 6-8:00 p.m.             All guests welcome

Wednesday November 13, 2024 – Funeral Service & Reception

  • 10:00 a.m.             Funeral Service with Eucharist at Bethlehem Lutheran, 1145 N 5th Ave, St. Charles, IL 60174
  • 12:00 p.m.              Dinner Reception & Sharing of Eulogies at St. Charles Country Club, 1250 Country Club Rd, St. Charles, IL 60174 – The venue is limited to 300 guests

Thursday November 14, 2024 – Private Burial

Donations in Peter’s memory can be made to:

  • The Stig P. Orum Memorial Foundation

www.stigorumfoundation.com 

  • The Peter & Irma Orum Research Fund at the Horticulture Research Institute / The AmericanHort Foundation

www.hriresearch.org/donate

  • The Danish Home of Chicago

https://danishhomeofchicago.org/ways-to-give/

  • Museum of Danish America – The Jens Jensen Landscape Prairie Park

https://www.danishmuseum.org/get-involved/donate

Condolences


Bill Koch from Arlington Hts, IL

"It has been a long business relationship with Peter and the Midwest Company since 1980 First with Koch and Son Landscaping and Kochs Lucky Acre garden Center and now with Hawthorn Gardens Peter has left a wonderful legacy Keep it up Christa!"


Alex Head (Fiore Nursery) from Lake Zurich, IL

"On behalf of everyone at Fiore Nursery, we extend our deepest condolences to the Orum family and everyone at Midwest Groundcovers and Midwest Trading. Peter's contributions to the horticultural industry have left an indelible mark, and we are grateful for the decades of collaboration and friendship. His passion, vision, and commitment to excellence will be remembered always. Our thoughts are with you during this difficult time."


Danny Gouge from Avon, OH

"So sorry to hear this news. He will be missed. He was a great leader in the industry. He has done so much for the industry now and for the future."


PHILL KING Greenwood Propagation from Hebron, IL

"Peter was a exceptional person and a model propagator. It was a honor to be his industry friend. Years ago I made a presentation at IPPS during the Eastern Regional Meeting. As I was leaving the stage Mr. Orum rushed forward to shake my hand. It was my proudest moment standing with a nursery legend,"


Christine Filipski (Pedersen Co) from Abingdon, VA

"My sincere condolences to the Orum family on your loss. Peter was a role model and mentor to so many and an all-around good citizen of the world. His influence on the nursery industry here and abroad will live on forever."


Jennifer Brennan from Evanston, IL

"My condolences are sent to Peter Orum's families (both his work family and his personal family). He was always so welcoming whenever we would cross paths at trade events and at Midwest company headquarters. It is a true honor to have known him and to have worked so many wonderful people from the Midwest Companies. Rest in peace, Peter Orum!"


Helena Pappas-Brunelle from Glen Ellyn, IL

"We are deeply saddened by Peter Orum’s passing. As a first-generation American, with parents who immigrated from Northern Europe, I share a deep appreciation for the strong work ethic passed down through the generations; and feel a connection to Peter’s journey and the values he represented. His dedication, innovation, and the lasting impact he made in the Horticulture industry are truly inspiring. My heartfelt condolences go out to his family. May his legacy continue to thrive in the lives of all who knew him.Helena Pappas-Brunelle & Family College Of DuPage Student A.A.S. Horticulture Candidate 2026"


Tracey & Paul Nielsen from Grayslake, IL

"As part of the Danish Sisterhood and DAAC, Paul and I were always warmly greeted by Peter and so our hearts and prayers go out to his staff and family for this time of sorrow. He will be sorely missed in our tightly knit Danish American community."


Ole G Sindberg and Kirsten Freund' from Trout Valley, IL

"We are so saddened by Peters passing`. Peter was a personal friend, and he deserved better than this, particularly the suffering he endured during his battle with Lymphoma and the cancer that eventually took his life. He will be missed for so many reasons; to mention just a few: The Danish Royal Guards, the Chicago Nimbus Club, The Danish Home, and the Museum of Danish America."


Jolyn Miller from Plainfield, IL

"I'm so sorry and saddened to hear about the passing of Peter. My prayers and thoughts are with you at this difficult time. May your memories and his legacy help guide you. I will cherish my memories of Peter - he was an interesting and kind man who made my life experience more rewarding for having known him. He will be missed but his legacy will live on."


Mark Grant from St. Louis, MO

"I have such fond memories of Peter from the 18 years l worked at NFIB. Peter was a great advocate for small businesses. I hope your memories of Peter will give you a lifetime of joy."


Homer Trecartin from Berrien Springs, MI

"I always enjoyed seeing Peter at trade shows and various industry functions. He always made me feel welcome and took a personal interest. When I read his memoir, it gave me a great appreciation not only for him as an individual but also for the magnificence of our horticulture industry. He will be missed."


Ed & Bladt from Eastampton, NJ

"Peter was a wonderful man. He had a great sense of humor, he was kind, generous, and had so much knowledge, just about everything. The best thing was that you could ask him anything. We will forever remember Peter. He loved his nursery, his hobbies, but most of all he loved his family."


Nancy Neubert from St. Charles, IL

"Peter was a kind and generous neighbor. He was so thoughtful to his neighbors on Hickory Lane. Will remember him fondly. Sympathy to the family."


Annamaria Leon, Homan Grown L3C from Chicago , IL

"I met Peter on one special occasion at MWGC. Given all the people there and what they said about him, how he spoke, and the gratitude, love and humor with which he spoke, it was clear that he was a man who was driven, determined to make his mark in the world - and he did. All of it was to be done with ethics and integrity - which he did. MWGC and the plant legacy he and Irma left behind have impacted and will continue to impact millions of people in our communities. Thank you."


Village Squire South Elgin Family from South Elgin, IL

"Our deepest condolences to the family of a loyal and beloved guest. He will be deeply missed and our thoughts and prayers are with you."


Nancy Couture from St Louis, MO

"Dear Christa and family, Peter, as you know, was very special to our family(Skrumsager). Sonja, Gyde, Christine, Kresten, Nancy and spouses send you our condolences. A donation was sent to Stig's memorial fund in honor of Peter. You are all in our thoughts and we wish you all the best for the future."


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