Gene Oesterle

Eugene J. Oesterle, 89, of Waukon, IA, died Wednesday, December 19, 2018, at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Saturday, December 22nd, at 10:30 AM at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon with Fr. Mark Osterhaus officiating. Burial will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Waukon. Friends may call from 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM Friday at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon.

Eugene John Oesterle was born May 1, 1929, to John and Laura (Schellhammer) Oesterle in rural Lansing, IA, on the Schellhammer family farm. He attended country schools before farming with his dad. On September 30, 1950, Gene married Darlene Heiderscheit at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Lansing; they celebrated 68 years together. After getting married, Gene worked in La Crosse, WI, before returning to the Waukon, IA, area to farm. In 1967, he started his own business Oesterle Pump Service until semi-retiring after about 20 years; he then worked for Welch LP, Waukon schools as a custodian, and then as a transit driver.

In his early years, Gene enjoyed playing league softball in Lansing. After retirement, camping was a favorite pastime for him and Darlene and the whole family. Gene and Darlene also enjoyed going out to supper and to dances with close friends. Gene had a passion for Iowa Hawkeye football and basketball and got to experience a basketball game when his grandson was Herky the Hawk. Most of all, he enjoyed being with his children and grandchildren and joking around with all the people he became acquainted with.

Survivors include his wife Darlene of Waukon; four children: Lana (Keith) Grady and Terry (Diane) Oesterle, both of Waukon, Shari Reicks of Decorah, IA, and Teresa (Joel) Sommer of Waukon; eight grandchildren: Jason (Chris) Grady, Heather (Jesse) Delaney, Shane (Shanit) Oesterle, Kari (Chad) Kelly, Matt (Rebekah) Johnson, Maria (Mike) Anderson, Tyler Sommer, and Shelby (Dan) Iseli; 16 great-grandchildren plus one due to arrive in January; his sister Ruby Carolan of Newhall, IA; and a brother-in-law Harry (Marlene) Abel of Marquette, IA.

Gene was preceded in death by his parents; son-in-law Jim Reicks; brother-in-law Larry Carolan; and father and mother-in-law Frank and Bernice Heiderscheit.

Honorary casketbearers are Gene's coffee club. Casketbearers are Shane Oesterle, Chad Kelly, Matt Johnson, Jesse Delaney, Jason Grady, Mike Anderson, Tyler Sommer, and Dan Iseli.