Harold D. Oehmke

Harold Oehmke, 79, of Linn, KS, died Wednesday, October 10, 2012 at his home in Linn. A funeral service was at 2 p.m., Saturday, October 13, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Linn. Rev. Tom Sahl officiated. Anita Singular was the organist and Jenny Antholz sang "Blessed Assurance" and "Be Still My Soul." The congregation sang "How Great Thou Art." The pallbearers were Greg Oehmke, Scott Sippel, Shane Fiser, Ryan Oehmke, Connor Oehmke, Jessie Collins, Jenny Antholz, Erin Morgan, Stacy Kanaga, Courtney Fiser and Ellen Oehmke. Burial was in the church cemetery. Harold was born April 24, 1933 at Linn, son of Albert and Bessie (Long) Oehmke. He graduated from Linn Rural High School and then served four years in the U.S. Air Force. On May 24, 1953, he married Donnette True at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Greenleaf. They were blessed with five children, Gary, Sandra, Terry, Susan and Randy. Harold worked as a rural mail carrier at Linn for twenty-six years and was the Postmaster for seven years until retiring in 1990. After retiring he went to trucking school and then drove for Crete Carriers. In his travels, he visited all 48 continental states. He was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, American Legion, National Rural Letter Carriers Association and Linn Booster Club. Harold had his private pilot’s license and was a Boy Scout Leader. In his spare time he enjoyed visiting with friends at the coffee shop, playing pitch and pinochle, and spending time with his children and grandchildren. He also enjoyed farming and working with cattle. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Lawrence; and two sisters, Marie Winter and Betty Jean Adams. Survivors include his wife, Donnette; five children, Gary (Debbie) Oehmke, Derby, KS, Sandy (Terry) Sipple, Wichita, KS, Terry (Kathy) Oehmke, Salina, KS, Susan (Mitch) Fiser, Shawnee, KS, and Randy (Lisa) Oehmke, Wichita; eleven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. The Harold Oehmke Memorial Fund has been established and will be designated at a later date. Contributions may be sent in care of Ward Funeral Home. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Harold D. Oehmke, please visit our flower store.