Omer, Albert C. 1924-1980

OMER, FINDLEY, MILLER, SPEARS, SPAHN

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes
Date: 2/21/2014 at 15:16:36

The Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register
Sept. 22, 1980

A.C. OMER RITES SATURDAY

Albert C. Omer, 56, of 1920 West St., Grinnell, died at his home Wednesday evening, Sept. 17, of an apparent heart attack.

Funeral services were conducted at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Smith Funeral Home, with the Rev. James P. Russell of the Grinnell United Methodist Church officiating. Organist was Kathleen Heffner. Pallbearers were Judge Maynard J.V. Hayden, Dr. Eugene Johnson, Thomas W. Mott, David Reese, Dr. Raymond Robinson and Donald Salisbury. Honorary bearers were Judge Thomas S. Bown, Judge Harold J. Fleck, Judge A.V. Hass, Judge Robert D. Frederick, Judge Maurice C. Herrick, Charles Larson, Dr. Fletcher Miller Jr., Judge Harry Perkins Jr., Lee Walker and Judge Van Wifvat.

Masonic services were conducted by F.W. Tomasek and members of Hermon Masonic Lodge No. 273 at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Smith Funeral Home.

Full military graveside honors were conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday at Memory Gardens Cemetery, Iowa City.

Should friends desire, memorials in Mr. Omer's name may be left at the Smith Funeral Home.

The son of Jesse and Mabel Findley Omer, he was born June 9, 1924, at West Point, Ill. Following his early education, he graduated from Carthage College in 1947. He received his law degree from the University of Iowa in 1950 and graduated with honors from Yale University in Far Eastern studies in 1960. During World War II he served in the U.S. Air Force in Europe, receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with five oak leaf clusters.

During the Korean conflict he returned to the Air Force and served for 17 years, retiring with the rank of lieutenant colonel in 1969. He was professor of air science at Grinnell College from 1963 to 1967.

He was married to Eileen Miller on Oct. 16, 1952, in Iowa City.

Mr. Omer was a magistrate judge of Jasper County in Newton. He was a member of the Iowa Bar Association and the Iowa Judges Association, and was a former member of Salisbury, Larson, Omer and Fleck law firm in Newton. He was also a member of the Retired Air Force Officers Association, and in honor of his longtime work with the Boy Scouts he received a lifetime sustaining membership award. He was a 32nd degree Mason and was a life member of the Order of DeMolay.

He is survived by his wife, Eileen; his children, Jeffrey V. Omer of Grinnell, Cynthia M. Omer of Ames, Linda S. Omer of Grinnell, and Patricia A. Omer, a student at Central College in Pella; two brothers, Eugene and John Omer of Quincy, Ill.; and two sisters, Nila Spears of Quincy, Ill., and Edna Spahn of Nauvoo, Ill. He was preceded in death by his parents and three brothers.