OBERMAN, J. Douglas 1945-2016

OBERMAN

Posted By: K.L. Kittleson
Date: 4/22/2016 at 20:47:20

J. Douglas Oberman

Died: Apr 17, 2016

Biography--

Doug was born in Kentfield, California on January 29, 1945, son of Joseph and Opal. Doug’s father worked at Rath Packing Company in the 30’s and then was In the U.S. Navy during World War II. During the time his father was at sea, his mother worked at the shipyards as a steel worker. After the war, his father returned to work at Rath in Houston and San Antonio. He was then transferred to the Waterloo Rath site. Doug’s two sisters, Norma and Janice, completed the family and they lived in the Miller Apartments near McKinstry and Grout Schools.

On September 7, 1953, at age 8, Doug had a terrible headache. The next day he was at an ER and then transferred by ambulance to Iowa City with a Polio diagnosis. He lived in an Iron Lung in the University of Iowa Hospital for one and one half years. He came home to live his life in an Iron Lung. With Doug’s incredible mind and will to survive he spent the next 63 years fighting unbelievable odds. Doug had not had the use of his arms and hands since the onset of Polio. Nothing stopped him. He ran a computer keyboard with his nose and the mouse with his foot.

Doug was home-schooled for a short time and then started to attend the Cedar Falls schools. He graduated at or near the top of his class at Cedar Falls High, UNI, and University of Missouri Law School.

He returned to Waterloo and joined the Swisher and Cohrt Law Firm. He became a partner and was the technical guru for anything computer-related. He was a beloved member of the Firm for 25 plus years.

When Doug’s mother died nineteen years ago he moved to Bickford Cottage in Cedar Falls.

During his years in our community, he was on the Board of Directors of Exceptional Persons, Inc., and active in Gateway Club for the residents of PPI. In 1985, he joined the Waterloo Downtown Rotary Club and was the first Chairman to raise money for Rotary International to eradicate Polio in the world. Doug and his traveling partners, Steve and Liz Thorpe, have traveled parts of the United States and World for him to speak and encourage people to assist in the eradication of Polio. When he began this quest there were 300,000 new cases of Polio each year. In 2015, there were less than 30 cases worldwide .

Doug was an active and cherished member of Orchard Hill Church and served on the Board of Directors there.

He has changed the lives of thousands in the World. Many in this area realize what he accomplished in 63 years as a Polio victim and how fortunate most of us are to have the options which we have.

Doug has been a Hero Among Us. He is survived by his sister Norma (Jim) Rose of New Hampshire and several nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by his parents and sister, Janice.

Services:
Memorial Service on Friday, April 22, 2016, at Orchard Hill Church, 1215 Elmridge Dr., Cedar Falls, Iowa.

Cemetery:
Private burial precedes the service.

Source: Locke Funeral Home

Black Hawk Obituaries maintained by Karen De Groote.
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