Above and beyond the call: Sterling Moose earns order's highest honor

STERLING – After nearly 3 decades of service, a Rock Falls man has received the highest honor that a member of the Loyal Order of the Moose can be given.

John C. Ordean Jr., 64, of Rock Falls, a member of Sterling Moose Lodge 726, was awarded the Pilgrim Degree of Merit in Mooseheart in June in Kane County.

The Pilgrim Degree is the Moose’s ultimate reward, given for exceptional devotion to the principles and ideals of caring for children and senior members. It is presented only to those who have given years of “above-the-call-of-duty’” service to the Loyal Order of Moose and its philanthropic endeavors.

“I enjoy everything about being involved with the lodge, what they stand for, how they give back to the community and what they do for the kids and elderly,” Ordean said, adding that winning the award “was overwhelming and a total surprise.”

“It is a great honor and a privilege to receive this award,” he said.

According to the Moose international website, the Pilgrim Degree of Merit is “the highest and most coveted degree,” given to only 150 to 200 members each year. Ordean is one of only seven Illinois Moose to be elevated to Pilgrim in 2017.

A member of the Sterling order since 1991, Ordean has held more than 20 positions at the lodge. He is only its ninth member to be so honored in the past 106 years, said Lodge Administrator Duie Beck.

Ordean, who originally hails from Sterling, started the lodge’s Santa’s breakfast, cooked for Friday fish fries, made food baskets for Christmas, and has worked many parties, brunches and special events.

“He deserves this honor for his longtime support of the lodge,” Beck said.

Ordean also is a member of the Sterling Kiwanis Club, and has been a Red Cross volunteer for 37 years. He worked at Sterling Steel for 15 years and now owns Quality Stripe, a parking lot striping company.

He has two children, Tara and Travis Ordean and three grandchildren, Dillen, Brooklynn and Brynn.

ABOUT THE MOOSE

Sterling Moose Lodge 726 is based at the Sterling Moose Family Center, 2601 E. Lincolnway. Go to sterlingmoose726.org or call 815-625-0354 for more information about membership and local projects.

Go to mooseintl.org to learn more about the fraternal organization's efforts worldwide.