Bill Orr…who became the first person to serve as First Gentleman of the state of Nebraska when his wife Kay became governor in 1987…died at his home early Sunday morning at age 89.

Orr had been in poor health for several years, suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and died at his home in Lincoln with his wife and family beside him.

Although best known as the First Gentleman, Orr was highly successful in his own right…spending 37 years with Woodmen Accident and Life, now know as Assurity, rising to the post of senior vice president and director of agency and marketing operations. He retired in 1997.

Orr lived up to his reputation of charity, wit, and intelligence during the time his wife served as the first female Republican in the county elected as a governor by authoring a cookbook and donating the proceeds to charity.

The “First Gentleman’s Cookbook” gained national attention for its self-effacing humor and high profile contributors that ranged from Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett to former first lady Nancy Reagan.

His promotion of the book included profiles by a wide-ranging number of media outlets including the New York Times and an appearance on the Regis & Kathie Lee Show.

Funeral services for Bill Orr will be held Wednesday in Lincoln. Memorials are encouraged to the People’s City Mission in Lincoln and the Lincoln Crisis Pregnancy Center.