Glen Michael VanOrsdol, 1941 - 2021

Glen Michael VanOrsdol was born on Feb. 16, 1941 in Bristow, Oklahoma to Glen and Jewel Lee ( Judy) VanOrsdol. He departed this life on August 17th, 2021 in Bristow, Oklahoma where just a few days before his death he proclaimed “I’m 80 ½ years old, it’s too late for me to be a loser now”.

He married Melba Hayes in Bristow, OK on April 1, 1970. Together they raised 9 children and enjoyed 51 years of marriage.

Mike retired from the Creek County Highway Department several years ago, but he started out in life working as a ranch hand for many years at the Jackson Ranch and then the Kelly Brothers Ranch. Mike was a true cowboy in every sense of the word. He was our own Gus McCrae, John Wayne, and Marlboro Man all rolled into one. His goal in life was to raise his cattle, sometimes working from sun-up to sun-up as his cattle’s needs came before his own. He often would buy calves from the Sale Barn that still needed to be bottle fed much to the dismay of any child still living at home.

Mike drove a School bus for Bristow Public Schools, bussing children all over southern Creek County for over two decades. I’m sure there are many adults today who can share a story or two about his zero tolerance for horseplay on his bus. His speeches were legendary, and nobody wanted to be on the receiving end of them. He also drove the High School Athletic bus for 17 years. Nothing made him more proud than watching his sons play football in the 70’s and 80’s under the direction of his dear friend, Bill Scott.

Mike was the Patriarch of the VanOrsdol clan. May God have mercy on your soul if you missed a VanOrsdol family reunion or gathering of any kind. Family was everything to him. He gave his children and grandchildren unique nicknames but the boys that dated his granddaughters all shared the same name, Zit-head. Mike was so bad at remembering actual names that he named his youngest daughter “Leona” after his momma. The only problem was… that wasn’t her name (see above).

Yellowstone National Park was the closest thing to Heaven on Earth for Mike. He enjoyed taking many road trips there over the years and packing as many grandkids as he could take into a 15-passenger van to enjoy road-side picnics and endless bathroom stops on the way to God’s Country. He created lifelong memories that will be cherished for all time.

Mike left many victims in the wake of his famous pranks. Nothing made him laugh harder than hearing the screams of someone that just found a snake on the floor, a bobcat in their seat, a tarantula launched out of thin air onto their shirt, or Bigfoot scratching on the window. He truly remained a 5th grade boy at heart through-out his life.

Mike never met a nurse he didn’t like, and Dr Chip Cooper was the only doctor on the planet that he trusted.

He enjoyed giving words of wisdom to whomever he felt needed it, inappropriate or not. He was usually right either way.

Even though Mike was blessed with numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren, he still had room in his heart to be a surrogate grandpa to so many more. He knew how to make each one of them feel special and important.

This gentle giant was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers: Pat VanOrsdol and Gene VanOrsdol; One son: Will VanOrsdol; One grandson: Steven Tyler Wilson.

He is survived by his wife Melba of the Bristow home. Three daughters: Pam Stern and husband, Don of Owasso; Denise Sargent and husband, Jeff of Bristow; Leona Michelle Smith and husband, Johnny Ray of Depew. Five sons: Russell Hayes and wife, Mary of Gypsy; Marty VanOrsdol of Bristow; Tim VanOrsdol of Bristow; David VanOrsdol and wife, Amber of Bristow; Randy Hayes and wife, Phyllis of Gypsy. 28 grandchildren and 24 greatgrandchildren. Two Sisters: Sharon Whitehouse and husband, Wilbert of Bristow; Kathleen Smith and husband, Jack of Bristow; and one brother: Danny VanOrsdol and wife, Dana of Bristow and numerous nieces and nephews.

Mike was a Christian who loved Jesus. His main wish was that his entire family knew the importance of accepting Jesus Christ as their Savior so that they could meet him in Heaven someday. Even though he’s already there and reunited with loved ones that he greatly missed, his fingerprint will live on in all the lives he touched.

The funeral service will be held 10:00am Thursday, August 26, 2021 at The Headquarters of Bell Cattle Company in Bristow. Interment will follow at the VanOrsdol Family Cemetery.