Joseph Obering

1933 - 2005

Joseph B. Obering, 72, a geologist and oil company executive, passed away in Dallas Monday, Sept. 5, 2005.

Memorial service: 10 a.m. Monday in Sparkman/Hillcrest Chapel, 7405 W. Northwest Highway, Dallas.

Memorials: St. Mark's School of Texas, the Santa Fe Opera, or The Joseph B. Obering Foundation.

Joe Obering was born in San Angelo May 11, 1933, son of Helen and Ernest Obering. Joe grew up in San Angelo, Midland, The Hague and Mount Vernon, Ill., before the family settled in Oklahoma City in 1947. Joe attended Howe Military School in Howe, Ind., and Cranbrook Academy in Detroit and graduated from Casady School in Oklahoma City.

While still in high school, Joe started doing summer work for his father's oil company and began his lifelong study of geology. He earned a bachelor's degree in earth sciences at Dartmouth College in 1956 and went to work for Warrior Oil Co., the family oil and gas business, in Denver, Colo., focusing initially on the Denver-Julesburg Basin. In 1966, the Oberings took Warrior into the international arena and, as a signatory to the first production sharing contract with the Indonesian government, became part of oil and gas industry legend. From that time until the sale of Warrior in 1999, Joe remained active in managing Warrior's interests in Indonesia. In 1985 Warrior moved from Denver to Dallas. Joe was knowledgeable in both the scientific and economic aspects of the oil and gas business and was highly respected by colleagues and associates around the world.

Joe loved skiing, football, classic jazz and the opera, and was a student of Asian art, culture and world history. Joe taught his sons to love and respect the mountains, how to ski and how to survive in the wilderness. The most important lesson he taught his sons was self-reliance and respect for others.

Survivors: Wife, Mihoko Kuroishi Obering; sons, Joseph Benjamin Obering of Dallas, William R. Obering of New York City and Christian Joseph Obering of Denver, Colo.; brother, William M. Obering of Wilson, Wyo.; sister, Mrs. Paul F. O'Brien Jr. of Santa Fe, N.M.; grandchildren, Shauna, Tucker and Wyatt Obering; and several nieces and nephews.