OLDHAM, Donald 'Rick' 1940-2004

OLDHAM, MURRAY, BYRNES, BARNARD, PHEARMAN, HOUSH, SCHON, MCMILLIAN

Posted By: IAGenWeb Obituary Volunteer
Date: 3/26/2008 at 14:41:55

Donald "Rick" Oldham, 64, of 5938 Sharon Lane NW, died in his home following a long illness.

Funeral Mass was held Tuesday, July 6, at John the XXIII Catholic Church with the Rev. Phil Thompson officiating. Burial was in St. Joseph Cemetery. Teahen Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Rick is survived by his beloved wife, Margaret M. Byrnes Oldham; two sons, Daniel J. (Sarah) Oldham and children Connor, Rachel, and Christian of Fort Meade, Md., and Patrick (Teenah) Oldham and children Cody and Kealey of Cedar Rapids; two daughters, Mary Ellen Oldham of Cedar Rapids, and Dawn (Roger) Barnard of East Gull Lake, Minn.; two brothers, Allan (Marian) Oldham of Billings, Mont., and Paul (Janet) Oldham of Algona; three sisters, Sister Francesca Oldham, RSM of Cedar Rapids, Catherine (Larry) Phearman of Mason City, and Imelda (Chuck) Housh of Monee, Ill.; sisters-in-law, Edith (Joe) Oldham-Schon and Darlene (Mike) Oldham of Dubuque, Barb (Jack) Oldham of Jacksonville, Fla.; in-laws include, Pat (Carol) Byrnes of Waterloo, Elizabeth (Bob) McMillian of Stanley, Dennis (Judy) Byrnes and Roger (Rita) Byrnes of Waukon, and Ed Byrnes of El Paso, Texas.

Rick was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers, James, (killed in action while serving as a Navy Corp man serving with the Marines in WWII South Pacific, Peleliu Islands) Francis "Joe", John "Jack", and Michael Oldham and one sister, Sister Mary Ellen Oldham, RSM.

Rick was born February 9, 1940, the 10th of 11 children of Frank and Edith Murray Oldham in Charles City. He graduated from Immaculate Conception Grade School and High School in 1958.

Rick joined the United States Navy June 12, 1959, and retired as an Aviation Administration Chief Petty Officer on June 17, 1979, with 20 years of service. He then worked for Rockwell Graphic System (Goss) for 21 years in the Material Divisions as a Material Analysis Examiner and Line Supervisor, retiring on July 31, 2000. He attended Kirkwood Community College where he earned an Associate of Arts Degree with additional credits from Mount Mercy College.

Rick married Margaret "Peggy" Byrnes June 12, 1965, at St. Mary Hanover Catholic Church, Hanover Township, Allamakee County.

Serving in the Navy meant raising the family in many different places: Glenview, Ill.; Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; Kingsville, Texas; and Alameda, Calif., before retiring in Cedar Rapids. A believer of proper mix of family, religion, and community, he worked with many organizations. He worked with youth organizations including Little League Baseball (Texas); Cub Scouts, Webalo Scouts, and Boy Scouts in Texas and Cedar Rapids; Catholic Youth Organization in Texas; and Confirmation Preparation Studies in Cedar Rapids. He was a very active member of the Knights of Columbus. He was honored as Knight of the Year 1976-1977, Council 3389, Kingsville, Texas, as well as Family of the Year in 1986, Council 5544, in Cedar Rapids. Rick was a member of Council 11942 in Fairfax/Walford, and a member of the Bowen General Assembly 4th Degree. As a member of the American Legion Hanford Post 5, he served as a member of the Color Guard. He was also a member of the Fleet Reserve Association and a member of John XXIII Catholic Church. Rick had many proud memories of his career in the Navy. While serving as a plane captain on the U.S.S. Constellation, during it's initial flight operation, his plane was chosen to be the first to fly off and on the carrier because it was the best represented of all the planes in cleanliness and appearance. In honor of this, his name was placed on the plane. March 17, 1963, while serving at NAF Naples, Italy, he was able to attend the Beatification of Blessed Elizabeth Seton, which was efficatiated by Blessed John XXIII at St. Peter Basilica, Rome. Instead of flowers memorials may be directed to the family.

~Waukon Standard, 7/15/2004