Howard M. Oehlert

CLEAR LAKE - Howard M. Oehlert, 86, of Clear Lake, died Thursday (March 20, 2008) at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City.

A funeral service will be held 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 25, at Clear Lake United Methodist Church, 508 Second Ave. N. in Clear Lake, with the Rev. Diana Hoover officiating. Interment will be held at the Mount Vernon Township Cemetery, rural Swaledale. Military honors will be provided by the Clear Lake VFW.

Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday at Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 101 N. Fourth St. in Clear Lake, and one hour prior to the service at the church.

Memorials may be given to Hospice of North Iowa.

Howard was born Nov. 29, 1921, the son of Julius C and Leila (King) Oehlert, southwest Meservey, Franklin County. In 1922, his parents moved from Meservey area to farm south of Clear Lake. Howard attended eight years of country schools, Mount Vernon No. 4 and then graduating from Clear Lake High School in the spring of 1939. Early 1942, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps and served four years in the 20th Air Force. He was discharged from the service Feb. 14, 1946.

Howard was married to Verna E. Davis March 7, 1943, while home on furlough. Four children were born to them, Margaret Ann, stillborn in 1944, Rich C. in 1947, David in 1949 and Garry in 1958.

Howard and Verna started farming in the spring of 1946 south of Clear Lake. In the spring of 1971 Verna and Howard moved to their present address of 106 Fairway Drive, Clear Lake. While he was engaged in farming for 57 crop years, Howard was a populist person in life with his thoughts and ideas.

He served in many civic affairs during his lifetime. He served 14 years and was secretary/treasurer of the Cerro Gordo Association of Farmers, elected committeeman four years in the Club of Union Township, served 11 years as chairman of Cerro Gordo County Land Taxpayers Association and was vice chairman of the Iowa Property Taxpayers Association, he served three years on the Cerro Gordo county F.H.A. Board. And after he moved to town, was elected to two terms as Cerro Gordo County Supervisor. He was a member of 4868 VFW Post and a past commander of 4868 VFW, a member of All Vets and American Legion of Clear Lake. Howard was a member of Clear Lake United Methodist Church.

Howard is survived by three sons, Richard C. Oehlert and his wife, Cherie Lee, David Oehlert and Garry Oehlert, all of Clear Lake; six grandchildren, Angie Powell and her husband, Roy, of Port Orchard, Wash., Brooke Oehlert of Asheville, N.C., Grant Oehlert of Long Beach, N.C., Syreeta Groves and her husband, Josh, of Forest City, Andy Monson and his wife, Bethany, of Clear Lake, and Jonathan Shear; four great-grandchildren, Trenton Andrews, Blake Groves, Riley Groves and Jayce Groves; and brother-in-law, Oscar Davis, of Clear Lake; and sister-in-law, Arlene Welsh of Waukon.

Howard was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Verna (March 2, 1997); and infant daughter, Margaret Ann.

Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 641-357-2193.

www.colonialchapels.com