Oltmanns, Kevin G. 1964-2011

OLTMANNS, GABEL, ALESCH

Posted By: Mary Holub, volunteer (email)
Date: 2/9/2011 at 11:55:19

Kevin G. Oltmanns

From: Le Mars Daily Sentinel, Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Kevin Gene "Shade Tree" Oltmanns, 46, of Windom, Minn., and formerly of the Craig and Sioux City area, died suddenly Sunday afternoon, Feb. 6, 2011, at the Windom Area Hospital in Windom.

Kevin was born Oct. 12, 1964, in Akron, the son of Wendell and Wanda (Gabel) Oltmanns. He was baptized and later confirmed at St. John's Lutheran Church in Craig. He received his education from Le Mars Community Schools and graduated in 1983. After high school, Kevin attended Auctioneer School in Mason City in 1984.

On Dec. 10, 1988, Kevin was united in marriage to Sally Alesch at Holy Name Catholic Church in Marcus. This marriage was blessed with one son, Brett.

Kevin worked at the Sioux City Stockyards for Brown-Goff-Raby Commission Firm, and was a member of the Sioux City Stockyards Exchange from 1984 until 1996. Kevin and Sally then moved to Windom, Minn., where Kevin worked at Heinold Hog Market in Windom as a livestock buyer/seller manager.

Kevin was a past board member for the Windom Youth Hockey Association. He spent countless hours donating his time to fundraising to keep the program going. He was also a very active member of the Windom Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Kevin was a sports fanatic, as he loved the Minnesota Twins, Kansas City Royals, Minnesota Vikings, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Minnesota Wild, Colorado Avalanche, and the Nebraska Cornhuskers football and baseball teams.

He enjoyed watching his son, Brett, during his involvement in sports throughout the years, especially hockey and baseball.

Kevin played fast pitch softball from 1980 to 1992 for the Craig Cubs and Hinton Merchants, where he was a pitcher.

He also enjoyed watching his nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends participate in their activities. During the summer he enjoyed spending time at the lake, fishing, and visiting with friends. He enjoyed charcoal grilling, which he was very proud of, and loved to share the food with others.

Kevin will be remembered as a Ford and John Deere man. He loved to travel and see the country. He was a great listener and could turn a bad day into a good day. Kevin always had a joke or story to tell. He loved his family and friends.

Kevin is survived by his loving wife, Sally Oltmanns of Windom; one son, Brett Oltmanns and his special friend, Sami O'Hara, of Bemidji, Minn.; parents, Wendell and Wanda Oltmanns of Le Mars; one brother, Mark Oltmanns and his wife, Deb, of Akron; grandmother, Loris Heeren of Le Mars; mother-in-law, Carol Alesch of Marcus; one sister-in-law, Donna Estephan of Katy, Texas; four brothers-in-law, Joe Alesch and his wife, RaeAnne, of Marcus, Pat Alesch of Marcus, Mike Alesch and his wife, Brenda, of Melvin, and Marty Alesch and his good friend, Jill Plagman, of Marcus; and numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Gene Gabel, J. Henry Oltmanns, and Amanda Oltmanns; uncle, Arlan Oltmanns; aunt, JoAnn Oltmanns; a nephew, Kyle Jon Oltmanns; and his father-in-law, Donald Alesch.

Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Friday at St. John's Lutheran Church in Craig. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. today (Wednesday) at the LaCanne Family Funeral Home in Windom, and from 3-8 p.m. Thursday at St. John's Lutheran Church in Craig, with a prayer service at 7 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church Friday.

Funeral arrangements are under the care of the LaCanne Family Funeral Service in Windom.

Casketbearers will be Joel Higley, Knute Meneely, Jim Johnson, Paul Meyer, Joe Alesch, Pat Alesch, Mike Alesch and Marty Alesch.

Honorary pallbearers will be Scott Renken, Mark Herzberg, Keith Koerselman, Bruce Koerselman, Doug Koerselman, Rick Jensen, Cole Oltmanns, Desirae Oltmanns, Devon Harmon, Emma Estephan, Anna Estephan, Bryce Alesch, Brooke Alesch, Jordan Strubbe, Seph Alesch, Kelsey Alesch, Chandler Alesch, the Craig Cubs Fast Pitch Softball Team and Sioux City livestock commission firms and businesses.

Memorials are preferred.