Ira N. Oelhafen, age 75, passed away on Saturday, March 2, 2013 at his residence in the Town of West Bend.
He was born on October 25, 1937 in West Bend to the late Ira A. and Norma (nee Kurtz) Oelhafen. Ira graduated from West Bend High School in the class of 1955 and went on to serve his country honorably in the U. S. Air Force until 1959. On August 30, 1958, Ira was united in marriage to Neatrice Ardoin at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Alexandria, LA. Neatrice preceded him in death on October 27, 1989. On June 21, 1991, Ira married Joy Fontenot at St. John's Ev. Lutheran Church in West Bend.
He worked for West Bend Equipment Company as an Industrial Electrician and later taught Industrial Electricity at MPTC.
Ira was a life-long member of St. John's Ev. Lutheran Church in West Bend. He enjoyed gardening, woodworking and wintering in Louisiana. He sold strawberries at his home from 1970-1986.
Ira is survived by his wife, Joy Oelhafen of West Bend; two sons, Bryan (Tiffany) Oelhafen of Sussex and Steven (Joan) Oelhafen of Allenton; his step-son, Gralyn Ogea of Kenner, LA; five grandchildren, Jenna, Ashley, Kaila, Krista, and Kaitlyn Oelhafen; two step-grandchildren, Lesa and Jake Povletich; two sisters, June (John) Schuppel of Wales and Norrita (Gerald) Thorne of Kohler; many nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends.
Funeral services in remembrance of Ira will be held on Monday, March 11th at 7:00 p.m. at St. John's Ev. Lutheran Church, 809 S. 6th Ave., West Bend. Rev. David Kellerman will officiate. Visitation will be at the church on Monday from 4:00 p.m. until the time of the service. Cremation will follow at Myrhum - Patten Funeral & Cremation Service and inurnment of Ira's cremated remains will take place on Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. in Washington County Memorial Park, West Bend.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff of Compassionate Care Hospice.