Howard Oehlert

    Howard M. Oehlert, 86, Clear Lake, died Thursday, March 20, 2008 at Muse-Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit, Mason City, Iowa.  A funeral service was held Tuesday, March 25, at the Clear Lake United Methodist Church with the Rev. Diana Hoover officiating.  Interment was held at the Mt. Vernon Township Cemetery, rural Swaledale, Iowa.  Military honors were provided by the Clear Lake V.F.W.  Memorials may be given to Hospice of North Iowa.
     Howard was born Nov. 29, 1921, the son of Julius C. and Leila (King) Oehlert,  southwest Meservey, Franklin County,  Iowa.   In 1922 his parents moved from the Meservey area to farm south of Clear Lake.  Howard attended eight years of country schools, Mt. Vernon No. 4 and graduated from Clear Lake High School in the spring of 1939.  In 1942 he enlisted in the United States Air Force and served four years in service.  He was discharged from the service Feb 14, 1946.
     Howard was married to Verna E. Davis on March 7, 1943 while home on furlough.  They had four children, Margaret Ann, stillborn in 1944, Rich C. in 1947, David in 1949, and Garry in 1958. 
     Howard and Verna started farming in the spring of 1946 south of Clear Lake.  In the spring of 1971 Verna and Howard moved to their present address of 106 Fairway Dr., Clear Lake.  He was engaged in crop farming for 57 years. Howard was a populist person in life with his thoughts and ideas.
     He served in many civic affairs during his lifetime.  He served 14 years as secretary/treasurer of the Cerro Gordo Association of Farmers, was committeeman for Club of Union Township, for 11 years he was chairman of Cerro Gordo County Land Taxpayers Association and was vice chairman of the Iowa Property Taxpayers Association, he served three years on the Cerro Gordo County F.H.A. Board.  After he moved to town, was elected to two terms as Cerro Gordo County Supervisor.  He was a member  and a Past Commander of V.F.W. Post 4868, a member of All Vets and American Legion of Clear Lake.  Howard was a member of the Clear Lake United Methodist Church.
     Howard is survived by three sons, Richard C. Oehlert and his wife, Cherie Lee, David Oehlert and Garry Oehlert, all of Clear Lake; six grandchildren Angie Powell and her husband, Roy, Port Orchard, Wash., Brooke Oehlert, Ashville, N.C., Grant Oehlert, Long Beach, N.C., Syreeta Groves  and her husband, Josh, Forest City, Iowa, Andy Monson and his wife, Bethany, Clear Lake, and Jonathan Shear; four great-grandchildren, Trenton Andrews, Blake Groves, Riley Groves and Jayce Groves; brother-in-law, Oscar Davis, Clear Lake; and sister-in-law, Arlene Welsh of Waukon, Iowa.
     Howard was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Verna on March 2, 1997; and infant daughter, Margaret Ann.
    Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel was in charge of arrangements.