Oelke, Lester E. 1894-1966

KLUTH, OELKE, SCHIEVELBEIN, WELTNER, LENTH

Posted By: Mary Durr (email)
Date: 7/25/2009 at 15:07:38

Lester Emmanuel Oelke

Funeral services for Lester Emmanuel Oelke, 71, of Farmersburg were held Tuesday afternoon, at 1:30 o'clock Jan. 4, at the St. John Lutheran church in Farmersburg with Rev. R. H. Steege officiating.

The body lay in state at the church from 12 o'clock noon until the time of the services. Burial was in the Farmersburg and Wagner cemetery.

Mr. Oelke died Saturday afternoon, Jan. 1, 1966, at about 2:45 o'clock at the Elkader hospital, where he was taken Dec. 20. He had polio when he was three years old, which left one of his arms crippled. He overcame this handicap, however, and was a very good farmer, and also operated a milk route very efficiently for many years.

He submitted to surgery in December, 1963. After recovery he continued to live in his apartment until last June when it was necessary to take him to the hospital once more.

About a month later he entered the Lutheran Home for the Aged at Strawberry Point to make his home there. He adjusted to life at the home and liked it there.

He was born a son of Edward and Mary, nee Kluth, Oelke in Farmersburg, Sept. 21, 1894. Shortly after his birth he was baptized in Garnavillo by Rev. Somerlad. The early years of his life were spent in the home of his parents. He attended the public school in Farmersburg and the religious school at St. Jon Lutheran church in Farmersburg. He was confirmed in St. John Lutheran church April 4, 1909 by Rev. F. Gadow.

He was married Jan. 5, 1916 to Alta Schievelbein at Zion Lutheran church at Clayton Center. In March of that year they moved to a farm in Wagner township, where they lived for four years. They then moved to a farm north of Monona, living here for seven years. Then they lived on a farm south of Monona for several years until they moved to the farm that they purchased on the edge of the city limits of Farmersburg.

After his wife died, May 22, 1950, Mr. Oelke continued to live on the farm for several years with his daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Weltner, and later with his mother, and after her death, alone.

Preceding him in death were his parents, his wife, and two infant sons.

Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Robert (Ilo Mae) Weltner of Summer and Mrs. Llyod (Ferne) Lenth of Elkader; one brother Gaylord of Monona; and four granddaughters, Mrs. Paul Wolters, Marasha Lenth, and Diane and Debra Weltner; and two grandsons, Junior Lenth and Daniel Weltner.

Music at the services was provided by the Senior choir of St. John Lutheran church. Mrs. R. H. Steege was the organist.

Postville Herald newspaper clipping from my mother's obituary collection.
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