William Oehler

WILLIAM OEHLER

Amana

William F. Oehler, 86, of Amana and Jacksonville, Fla., died Tuesday, March 15, 2016, at his home in Jacksonville. Funeral services: 10 a.m. Monday, March 21, at Middle Amana Community Church, Middle Amana, with Elder Betsy Momany officiating. Burial will be in Amana Cemetery with military honors. Visitation: 4 to p.m. Sunday, March 20, at Middle Amana Church.

Memorials may be contributed to First Responders, Amana Church in Amana or Community Hospice in Jacksonville.

Kloster Funeral Home, Marengo, is assisting the family with arrangements.

Bill is survived by his wife, Elsie; four children, Barry Oehler of Denver, Colo., Don Oehler of Amana, Lisa Kennedy (Stan Scheffen) of Green Bay, Wis., and Dr. Maria Oehler of Jacksonville, Fla.; six grandchildren, Sarah (Jim) Lentz of South Amana, Christopher Oehler of Iowa City, Neal Oehler of Amana, Sean (Diane) Kennedy of Charleston, S.C., and Katie and Allison Kennedy of Green Bay, Wis.; and six great-grandchildren. Also surviving are a sister, Ethel Miller (George) of Marengo; and a brother, Harvey Oehler of Middle Amana.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Orville; and a sister, Lucille Harbur.

William Frederick Oehler was born May 14, 1929, in Parnell, Iowa, the son of Otto Emil Oehler and Louise C. Breichneider Oehler. He graduated from the Amana High School in 1947 and served in the National Guard and U.S. Army for five years, stationed in Fort Riley, Kan. He and Elsie M. Zimmerman were married Oct. 7, 1950, in Cedar Rapids. Bill was employed by Amana Schools, where he started the school lunch program and drove a school bus. He owned and operated the Ronneburg Restaurant in Amana for 49 years, along with his wife and mother-in-law, and he considered his patrons to be more than customers; they were friends.

He was a member of Amana Church Society and Amana Arts Guild. He was instrumental in forming the Amana Travel Council and Amana Heritage Society. He served on boards for the Amana Society, Travel Council and Tourist Council. He also was a member of American Legion Post 572.

Bill enjoyed attending and watching football (particularly the Iowa Hawkeyes and Green Bay Packers), tennis, auto racing and other sports. He and Elsie especially enjoyed traveling with family and friends, both abroad and within our borders, creating many fond memories of these times.

Online condolences: www.klosterfuneralhome.com.