Oatman, John Junior (1927-2014)
OATMAN, PECKENSCHNEIDER, HANSEN, KOLANOWSKI, ROBERTS, MACOSKEY, MCDEID, BROWN, GUTZ, REDENBAUGH
Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 2/27/2014 at 13:24:01
John Junior Oatman
July 28, 1927 - February 14, 2014Storm Lake, Iowa
John Junior Oatman, age 86, of Storm Lake, Iowa, died on February 14, 2014, at the Newell Good Samaritan Society in Newell where he suffered from Alzheimer's disease.
John (Junior) Oatman was born to John and Alma (Peckenschneider) Oatman on July 28, 1927, in Storm Lake. Baptized on August 21, 1927, and confirmed on June 14, 1942, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, he graduated from Providence Consolidated School in Sulphur Springs in 1944 at age 16. He entered Iowa State as an engineering student, participated in ROTC, and played trombone in the marching band.
Drafted in World War II at age 18, John spent time in Fort Lewis, Washington, typing discharge papers for returning veterans. Returning to Iowa after his discharge, he started farming with his father. A state officer in Rural Young People, he honed his bowling skills, winning several trophies at the local bowling alley, enjoyed piano bars, and took flying lessons.
On September 26, 1959, Junior married Joann Hansen in Albert City, Iowa. He went back to school, earning a BA in secondary education from Buena Vista College and, later, an MA in science education from the University of North Dakota. For many years, he taught school in Marathon and Fonda while continuing to farm during the summers. A member of St. John’s Lutheran Church throughout his life, he served as a church elder and chairman of the congregation. In addition, he sang in the choir for almost sixty years.
An active member of the community, John also participated in community choirs and theater. For several years, he served as a township clerk. A member of Amvets, he held several offices including that of Commander. After he retired, he volunteered at the Northwest Iowa Aging Association, served as a delegate to the Older Iowa Legislature, worked as a State Health Insurance Information Program representative, and twice received the State of Iowa Volunteer Award, once from Governor Branstad and later from Governor Vilsack.
Junior loved music. His favorite songs included "Edelweiss" and "Eagle's Wings." He enjoyed playing cards and made lasting friendships in doing so. In 1962, he designed and built a house for his family where he resided until 2007 when he and Joann moved into a condo in Storm Lake. He also treasured family vacations, especially trips to Okoboji and the western U.S. as well as one special trip to meet relatives in Germany, not to mention those to visit his children.
Junior and Joann had four children, one of whom was deceased at birth. He is survived by his wife, Joann, their three daughters: Ann Kolanowski, of Bedford, Texas, Sue (Bill) Roberts, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Carrie (Jim) Macoskey, of Cottage Grove, Minnesota; his grandchildren: Will, Lucy, and Eliza Roberts; Linnea and Ellen Kolanowski; and Margaret Macoskey; his sisters: Leila McDeid, of Spencer, Iowa, and Mardelle Brown, of Onawa, Iowa; and his sisters-in-law: Pat Oatman, of Corona, California, and Audrey Gutz, of Storm Lake, Iowa; as well as by many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Glenn and Virgil; his sister, Velma Redenbaugh; his brothers-in-law: Vernon McDeid, Syril Brown, Harlan Gutz, and Norman Hansen.
Visitation: 5:00-7:00 p.m., February 18, 2014, at the Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake, Iowa.
Funeral Service: 10:30 a.m., February 19, 2014, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Storm Lake, Iowa.
Interment: February 19, 2014, at Fairfield Township Cemetery in Albert City, IowaCopyright © 2014, Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Homes
Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Homes
Buena Vista Obituaries maintained by LaVern Velau.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen