John Orris, 81, of Eau Claire, died Monday, October 14, 2002, at Sacred Heart Hospital. He was born on August 29, 1921 in Illinois to Sam and Rose Orris. He grew up and attended school in the Rock Island, Moline area.\r\nJohn entered the U.S. Marines during WWII and served as an intelligence tech sergeant in the Pacific. After his honorable discharge he attended the University of Iowa where he graduated with a degree in photojournalism in 1947.\r\nHe worked as a news photographer at the Milwaukee Journal, the Detroit News and the New York Times and freelance photography. He then moved to Platteville where he was a photojournalism instructor at UW-Platteville. John then moved to Eau Claire and taught at UW-Eau Claire, retiring in 1977. He remained active in campus life even after his retirement as a volunteer and auditing classes. \r\nHe received many photography awards through his life including the Graflex Award, Michigan News Photographer of the Year and the New York News Photographer of the Year. John has been noted for introducing and developing the use of small format cameras, natural light photography and modern camera techniques, as well as for doing pioneer work on many publications. He was a long time member of the National Press Photographers' Association.\r\nJohn took photos of many dignitaries including Eleanor Roosevelt and Harry Truman; his photos hang in salons all over the world.\r\nHe is survived by three nieces, Leslie Jamenson of Orlando, FL, Saralee Stark of Hot Springs, AR and Barbara Dibel of IL; and a great-nephew.\r\nHe was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Hannah Garland.\r\nFuneral services will be at 10 a.m. Friday, October 18, 2002 at Lenmark-Gomsrud-Linn Funeral Home with Pastor Gordon D. Thorpe officiating. Burial will be in Forest Hill Cemetery. Friends may call an hour prior to services Friday at the Funeral Home.

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