Orval Liljequist

MADISON
Orval "Stretch" Liljequist, age 93, of Madison, closed his last book on Sunday, September 17th, 2017, at Four Winds Manor in Verona, WI. He was born on March 16, 1924, in Wausau, WI., the son of Frank "Red" Liljequist and Helene Liljequist.

Stretch spent his youth in Wausau hunting, fishing, swimming and ice skating with his brother Rodney and sister Joyce. He discovered reading and family lore tells that he had read every book in the Wausau Public Library by the time he left town. In high school he was given his nickname, Stretch, when he grew to 6 feet but only weighed 135 pounds. He played on the same football team as classmate Elroy "Crazylegs" Hirsch. They came to UW-Madison in 1942, where Stretch allegedly did some homework for Elroy so that Crazylegs could focus on football. It was in Bascom Hall in English class that Stretch met Kathleen, the love of his life. Romance blossomed, but the war intervened, and Private Liljequist and Kathleen Mary Brown were married in Camp Polk, Louisiana on August 29, 1944. Stretch served in Europe and was discharged when the war ended. He completed his studies at UW-Madison with Master's Degrees in American History and Library Science. He worked in the Milwaukee Public Library as Coordinator of the Humanities Department and Rare Books Specialist, as well as Secretary of the Milwaukee Marine Historical Society.

In the 1950's, he discovered hiking, camping and backpacking, and spent decades pursuing these passions across the American West. Stretch and Kathleen retired in 1986 in Tucson, AZ, where he continued hiking and added birding to his list of passions, leading birding hikes at Saguaro National Monument.

In 2008 Stretch and Kathleen relocated to Madison, becoming members of the First Unitarian Society. They celebrated their 73rd wedding Anniversary this year.

Stretch was preceded in death by his parents and siblings.

He is survived by his wife Kathleen; sons Eric (Nancy) and Peder; daughter Kristin; grandchildren Shaw (Jenna Ruder) Liljeqvist; Kiva (Chris Wright) Liljequist; Leif Conklin Liljequist; great-grandchildren Kai, Siri, Ione and Linden.

A special thank you to the staff at Four Winds Manor and Agrace HospiceCare.

A Memorial Service will be held at the First Unitarian Society, 900 University Bay Drive, Madison, WI, on Saturday, November 4, 2017, at 1:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Madison Audubon Society, 1400 E. Washington Ave. Suite 170, Madison, WI 53703.

And from his beloved Shakespeare,
"Good-night, Sweet Prince,
and flights of Angels sing thee to thy rest".

Please share your memories of Stretch.

Cress Funeral & Cremation Service
3610 Speedway Road Madison
(608) 238-3434