Meet your Cook County Neighbor: Orvis Lunke
Nov 02, 2025 05:44AM ● By Editor
Images provided
A Boreal Community Media Exclusive - November 2, 2025
What is your favorite season in Cook County and why?
Every season in Cook County is unique, beautiful and has its advantages, but my real favorites are fall and winter. My wife Donna and I both love ice fishing, snowmobiling and anything outdoors, without bugs biting. There is nothing better than hearing the woods wake up during sunrise on hard water, and then feeling that tug on your line!
A Boreal Community Media Exclusive - November 2, 2025
How did you land in Cook County?
In May of 1970 I was hired by the Department of Natural Resources (now DNR) in the Forestry Division and assigned to the Washkish District. The week before I was to report for duty, I got a phone call from St. Paul asking if I was willing to transfer to Hovland. I had no idea where Hovland was, but after looking at a map, I decided to accept the transfer. I soon realized Cook County was a perfect fit for my love of the outdoors, and it turned out to be a wonderful place to live and work!
In May of 1970 I was hired by the Department of Natural Resources (now DNR) in the Forestry Division and assigned to the Washkish District. The week before I was to report for duty, I got a phone call from St. Paul asking if I was willing to transfer to Hovland. I had no idea where Hovland was, but after looking at a map, I decided to accept the transfer. I soon realized Cook County was a perfect fit for my love of the outdoors, and it turned out to be a wonderful place to live and work!
Will you share some memorable jobs that you have held throughout your life?
For sure the DNR! I was hired without any formal training, so had no idea what the job would entail, but I was fortunate to have two supervisors, Clarence Johnson and Carl Freeberg, that were willing to share their years of experience. The job was so varied in those days, including setting up and supervising timber sales, fire suppression, road maintenance, tree planting and maintaining campsites and boat landings. One day I would be cruising timber sales and the next I might be running a grader and hauling gravel. I cannot remember a single day being bored in over 36 years working for the DNR. Cook County terrain is so different from where I grew up near Thief River Falls, MN, on a farm. After high school I entered the Army National Guard, and it was while I was on active duty that I decided that farming was not for me. Later, I worked for an electrical contractor and construction on a large oil pumping station. I passed the State of Minnesota employment application test that winter, and that led to my long-time career with the State of Minnesota DNR.
For sure the DNR! I was hired without any formal training, so had no idea what the job would entail, but I was fortunate to have two supervisors, Clarence Johnson and Carl Freeberg, that were willing to share their years of experience. The job was so varied in those days, including setting up and supervising timber sales, fire suppression, road maintenance, tree planting and maintaining campsites and boat landings. One day I would be cruising timber sales and the next I might be running a grader and hauling gravel. I cannot remember a single day being bored in over 36 years working for the DNR. Cook County terrain is so different from where I grew up near Thief River Falls, MN, on a farm. After high school I entered the Army National Guard, and it was while I was on active duty that I decided that farming was not for me. Later, I worked for an electrical contractor and construction on a large oil pumping station. I passed the State of Minnesota employment application test that winter, and that led to my long-time career with the State of Minnesota DNR.
What is your favorite season in Cook County and why?
Every season in Cook County is unique, beautiful and has its advantages, but my real favorites are fall and winter. My wife Donna and I both love ice fishing, snowmobiling and anything outdoors, without bugs biting. There is nothing better than hearing the woods wake up during sunrise on hard water, and then feeling that tug on your line!
You and your lovely wife, Donna, are so involved in volunteering in the community. Who instilled this beautiful gift of giving back to others in you?
I have always been willing to give a helping hand to friends and neighbors. Donna was raised with similar values, so when we married, it was just natural that we would continue. We really kicked it in gear when the first Stimulus check was issued. I was retired and her job was considered “essential”, so our income was not impacted by the COVID shutdown. We decided that we should use that extra money to help local folks that had lost their jobs. Some of our friends heard what we were doing and offered to chip in. So many that we started our Small Requests Project, set up separate banking for transparency and ease of accounting and have been lucky to partner with the Co-op and be a distribution agent for Empty Bowls grocery gift cards. We continue to receive wonderful support from community members as well. Addressing food insecurity is so important to both of us, and we work hard to make sure no one in Cook County should ever worry about not having their next meal.
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you like to go, and why?
I would stay right here! I’ve traveled a good portion of the United States and Canada. Alaska was a favorite destination, but it’s so beautiful right here in Cook County. Our area has wonderful people, a safe environment and we have a sense of community that is lacking in other areas of the world!
I would stay right here! I’ve traveled a good portion of the United States and Canada. Alaska was a favorite destination, but it’s so beautiful right here in Cook County. Our area has wonderful people, a safe environment and we have a sense of community that is lacking in other areas of the world!
What is a surprising fact about you that many may not know?
In 1983, while I was with a couple of co-workers laying out the route for the Jackson Lake Road to be built, we found the crash site of an airplane that had been missing for 12 years. Parts of the plane remain at the crash site to this day. WTIP interviewed me about this a few years back and it is still searchable on their website.
In 1983, while I was with a couple of co-workers laying out the route for the Jackson Lake Road to be built, we found the crash site of an airplane that had been missing for 12 years. Parts of the plane remain at the crash site to this day. WTIP interviewed me about this a few years back and it is still searchable on their website.
