Oetken, Herman B. 1920-2013

OETKEN, LUBBEN, KLOSTER

Posted By: Doris Hoffman, Volunteer (email)
Date: 3/25/2013 at 14:26:54

Herman Oetken

Date of Death
Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Le Mars, IA

Herman B. Oetken, 92, of Le Mars passed away Tuesday, March 12, 2013 at Touchstone Living Center in Sioux City, Iowa.

Services will be held at10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 16, 2013 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, ELCA with Reverend Greg Gabriel officiating. Interment will be at Resthaven Memory Gardens in Le Mars. Visitations with the family present will be after 4:00 p.m. Friday, March 15, 2013 at Carlsen Funeral Home in Le Mars with a 7:00 p.m. Prayer Service Friday evening at the funeral home. Visitation will continue Saturday morning at the church from 9:30 a.m. until service time. Expression of sympathy can be extended to the family through www.carlsenfuneralhome.com.

Pallbearers will be Jim Oetken, Neil Oetken, Bill Campbell, Kenneth Campbell, John Oetken, Lance Oetken, Dean Arens and Doug Arens.

Herman B. Oetken was born April 2, 1920 on the family farm in Grant Township, rural Plymouth County, Iowa to John and Gretha (Lubben) Oetken. He was baptized and confirmed at Christ Lutheran Church, Grant Township. He attended country school near his home. Herman worked on the family farm until serving in the United States Army from February of 1942 until being Honorably Discharged in September of 1945. Herman served in the Pacific Theatre as a Radar Crew Chief with an anti-aircraft battery. All but 5 months were served overseas.

Herman was united in marriage to Frances Kloster on June 3, 1946 at Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Oyens, Iowa. Herman worked for 25 years at Vallet Dry Cleaners as the out-of-town route salesman. In 1974, he became the first manager of the Plymouth County Solid Waste Agency in Le Mars and retired in 1985.

Herman was a longtime member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Le Mars. He was also a member of the Le Mars World War II Last Mans Club and the Gideons. Herman enjoyed listening to all types of music, from swing to country western and rock ‘n’roll. As a young man, Herman excelled as a fastpitch softball pitcher with an Army team, St. John’s church team and the Wells Blue Bunny team. Herman valued a good education and encouraged his children and grandchildren to pursue a higher education. He loved reading and current events. Even at the age of 92 he was so “sharp” that he could keep up with anyone in the world of politics, sports and news. Herman treasured the time he had with his wife and family. He and ‘Frankie’ enjoyed traveling and visiting family members around the United States. Herman loved the fellowship of others. In his last days when surrounded by friends and family, he summed it up with a great big smile and said “thank-you for your friendship”.

Survivors include his children: Michael Oetken and his wife Vicki of New Ulm, MN, Catherine Schipper and her husband Merlin of Le Mars, Joane Rothwell of Sioux City, and; a daughter-in-law, Jill Taylor Oetken of Omaha, NE; a brother Don Oetken and his wife Dixie of Brunsville; a sister, Marlene Arens and her husband Tom of Le Mars; a brother-in-law, Leonard Campbell of Le Mars; a sister-in-law, Charlene Kloster of Longmont, CO; Seven grandchildren: Glenn Schipper, Jill Martin, Sarah (Tim) Appel, Jennifer Oetken, Laurel Oetken, Jon Rothwell, and Patrick Rothwell; four great grandchildren: Emily Martin, Amanda Martin, Nicholas Appel, and Elizabeth Appel; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Gretha (Lubben) Oetken; his wife Frances; a son Steven; a son-in-law, Roger Rothwell; sisters, Alice Reid, Lucille Slay and Laura Campbell and brothers, Lawrence Oetken and Kenneth Oetken. ©

Carlsen Funeral Home
Le Mars, Iowa