LAVERN H. OELTJEN

LAMAR- A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Lake Cemetery in Lamar for Lavern “Sleepy” Henry Oeltjen, 83, Lamar, who died Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019, at Truman Healthcare and Rehabilitation. Everyone is welcome to attend and celebrate his long lived life.

The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, at Daniel Funeral Home.

Contributions are suggested and made payable to the American Diabetes Association or the Barton County Humane Society, in care of the funeral home.

Condolences may be shared at www.dfhlamar.com.

Survivors include his wife, Hannah; one daughter, Sherri Pittsenbarger and husband Don, Lamar; two sons, Rick Oeltjen and wife Pam and Tim Oeltjen and wife Glyndora, all of Carthage; two sisters, Darla Reno, Lamar and Mary Lou Rathbun, Rochester, Minn.; four brothers, Ernie Oeltjen and Albert Oeltjen, both of Rochester, Minn., Melvin Oeltjen, Wichita Falls, Texas and Don Oeltjen, Smithville; nine grandchildren, Gabe Oeltjen and wife Lara, Erin Gomez and husband Ron; Phillip Oeltjen and wife Jarica, Ryan Souza and husband Justin, Rusty Pittsenbarger, Mike Pittsenbarger, Lori Bartlett, Valerie Gruerin and David Davis and 16 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by three sisters and seven brothers.

Mr. Oeltjen was born March 19, 1936, in Grand Meadow, Minn., to William and Anna (Pantze) Oeltjen. He was the 11th child out of 17 children. As a young man he would retrieve water from a nearby well, where he met his wife of 64 years, Hannah (Fry) Oeltjen. The two were married on Nov. 26, 1955.

Known to many as “Sleepy”, he enjoyed his daily naps and his favorite child (dog) named Fritzy. Starting work at the age of 16 he devoted many years at Norris Grain Company and Bub Curless Construction. He spent 38 years working at Curless Construction and became known as a trusted handy man. During this time, he was honored as a premier heavy equipment operator in Barton County. He was also a long-time member of the Lamar Metro Club.