Ray Oehlerking

Ray Oehlerking, 47, was tragically taken from his family and friends on November 8, 2023, in Pensacola, Florida.
Ray was born in Akron, Iowa, on March 16, 1976. During his early years, Ray enjoyed working with and learning from his father, Karl, on the family farm in Akron. Ray graduated from Akron-Westfield high school where he was a member of the football team. He earned a black belt in Taekwondo and was also a bull rider on several professional circuits, including the PBR, during his time in Iowa.
Later in life, Ray moved to Southern Maryland where he owned and operated a heavy-haul trucking business, Oehlerking Hauling, Rigging, and Heavy Equipment, Inc., from 2004 through 2021. Ray and Oehlerking Hauling had several memorable accomplishments including the construction of the Silver Line Metro to Dulles Airport in Virginia and hauling wind energy turbines to wind farms across the United States.
Although his life was tragically cut short, Ray was able to experience and enjoy many things on this earth. Ray took pride in coaching and watching his children play sports from youth leagues through college. Ray was a life-long, die-hard fan of the Indianapolis Colts and loved watching them win a Super Bowl in 2006. He enjoyed physical fitness, boxing, and long-distance running, making the gym his second home. In recent years, Ray was able to find peace living down by the Gulf of Mexico nurturing a new-found passion for photography, deep sea fishing, and hikes along the beach with his mother, Kathy, and his puggle, Ms. P.
Ray is preceded in death by his father, Karl Oehlerking, who passed in February 2021.
Ray is survived by his four children. Annika Oehlerking, 26, of Rockville, Maryland. Ty Oehlerking, 23, who is a second-year law student at the Georgetown University Law Center. Zak Oehlerking, 20, who is a sophomore at Dartmouth College where he is a member of the Men's Lacrosse team and the Dartmouth Aires a-cappella group. Claire Oehlerking, 13, who is a seventh-grade student at the St. Bartholomew school in Bethesda, Maryland where she enjoys playing the saxophone, soccer, basketball, and lacrosse. Ray is also survived by his mother, Katherine (Osterholt) Cardenas of Pensacola, Florida, and his sister, Karly (Oehlerking) Dodds of Weston, Florida, where she lives with her husband, Zane, and her children, Zoey and Ryker.
The family will be scheduling a private service in remembrance of Ray's life. In lieu of flowers, please consider following the link below to donate to a scholarship fund for his youngest daughter, Claire Oehlerking's education. https://everloved.com/life-of/ray-oehlerking/