Roger L. Oelke, age 54, of Cascade, formerly of West Bend, passed away on Wednesday, April 09, 2008.
He was born in Prairie du Chien on May 10, 1953 to the late Roger and Mary (nee Mead) Oelke. When Roger was a boy he and his family moved to West Bend. Roger was an avid baseball player and played little league, high school, and for theWest Bend Lithia team as a pitcher. He attended West Bend West High School and was one of the first graduating classes. Following his high school graduation he worked for Serigraph as a color matcher. Roger loved fishing and always longed to live by the Mississippi River. He was a loving brother and uncle; nothing was more important to him than his family.
Roger is survived by a sister, Tammy (Dennis) Liepert of West Bend; two brothers-in-law, Darrell Olson of Mercer and Dayrl Wells of Marble Rock, Iowa; seven nieces and nephews, Travis Horsch of Marble Rock, Iowa, Michelle Wells of Marble Rock, Iowa, David Uhrmann of Minocqua, Jami Santini of Hartford, Ashley Uhrmann of Stevens Point, Cory (Jamie) Kordosky of Oshkosh, and Jake Kordosky of Oshkosh; two aunts, Sharon (Lane) Swenson of Postville, Iowa and Nancy Salatka of Coolidge, Arizona. He is further survived by many other dear relatives and close friends.
Roger was preceded in death by his parents, and two sisters, Terri Oelke and Beth Oelke-Olson.
A memorial service in honor of Roger's life will be held on Saturday, April 12, 2008 at 3:00 pm at the Myrhum-Patten Funeral Home in West Bend. Pastor Janis Best of Fifth Ave. United Methodist Church will officiate. Visitation with family and friends will be at the funeral home on Saturday from 1:00 pm until the time of service at 3:00 pm. Burial of Roger's cremated remains will be in Garnavillo Cemetery in Garnavillo, Iowa.