OAKLEY, Harry DeVere (1935-2020)

OAKLEY

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 1/29/2021 at 12:40:42

Harry DeVere Oakley
(July 6, 1935 – October 10, 2020)

HOLSTEIN – Private family services for Harry Oakley, 85, of Holstein was held at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church in Holstein. Officiating was Msgr. Kenneth A. Seifried with burial in Calvary Cemetery at Holstein and military rites by American Legion Dessel-Schmidt Post #225 at Holstein. Nicklas D. Jensen Funeral Home in Holstein was in charge of arrangements.
Harry Oakley was born July 6, 1935, to Margaret Ruth Hogan and Harry Donald Oakley at home in Hiawatha. He graduated from Marion High School in 1953. Upon graduating from high school, he attended Iowa State University, participating in ROTC, graduating as a ceramics engineer. Harry married Martha Ann Young Sept. 17, 1955, in Marion. To this union, five children were born: Martha, Sean, Mary, Harry and Katie. After a brief sojourn as an engineer in Buffalo, N.Y., Harry returned to the Air Force, attending OCS and flight school. He was in active duty for seven years; his remaining military service was in the Air National Guard, retiring as a lieutenant colonel. His passion for flying continued in a 32-year career with TWA as an international pilot. Harry was a member of Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church and Kiwanis. Harry and Ann enjoyed following their children and grandchildren’s activities. They spent their retirement years in their homes at Spirit Lake and Holstein. Following Ann’s death and Harry’s health complications, he lived in Holstein full-time, until his death. He will be fondly remembered for his ceaseless encouragement of all to be lifelong learners, as well as for his enjoyment of hunting, fishing and reading. He died Oct. 10, 2020, following a battle with cancer. He died at home, surrounded by the comfort and care of his daughters.
Harry was preceded in death by his father, Harry Oakley; his mother and step-father, Margaret and Joe Bennett; his brother, Joe Bennett Jr.; his parents-in-law, Martha and Ralph Young; a brother- and sister-in-law, George and Leona Young; a nephew, Rodney Young; and a niece, Tracie Young Helm.
Harry is survived by his children: Martha (Mike) Stout, Sean (Dave) Easterby, Mary (Morgan) Oakley-McAreavy, Harry Oakley and Katie (Scott) McKenzie. He is also survived by a sister, Diane (Denny) Ellis; a sister-in-law, Ann Bennett; a niece, Michelle (Coleman) Reich; two nephews, Bernie and Alexander Helm; and a former daughter-in-law, Lora Johnson.
Sources: Ida County Courier, Ida Grove, Iowa, Thurs., Oct 15, 2020 and Nicklas D. Jensen Funeral Home & Monument Company, Holstein, Iowa at https://www.nicklasdjensenfh.com/