Roger D. Oelke, 88

Fairmont – A Celebration of Life for Roger D. Oelke, age 88, of Fairmont, will be held at 10:30 a.m. on May 25, 2021 at the Evangelical Covenant Church in Fairmont. Military honors by the Lee C. Prentice American Legion Post #36 and the Martin County Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #1222 will be held outside the church immediately following the service. Burial will follow at Lakeside Cemetery in Fairmont. Visitation will be held 4-7 p.m. on May 24, 2021 at Lakeview Funeral Home in Fairmont. Those wishing to view the service may do so on Fairmont Evangelical Covenant Church’s YouTube page. Roger passed away on Saturday, May 1, 2021. Memorials are preferred to Fairmont Evangelical Covenant Church or Lakeside Cemetery Association. The Lakeview Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Fairmont is assisting the family with arrangements.

Roger Dwayne Oelke was born on April 1, 1933 to Maynard and Blanche (Larson) Oelke in Winnebago. He graduated from Frost High School in 1951. Roger enlisted in the United States Navy from April 25, 1952 until being honorably discharged on April 24, 1956. He served in seventeen countries aboard the U.S.S. Charles R. Ware for two years and Philadelphia Naval Shipyard for two years.

On Nov. 7, 1954, Roger was united in marriage to Patricia Ann Sukalski in the country near Blue Earth. Together they lived for a short time in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, before moving to Blue Earth for five years and then moving to Fairmont in 1961. Roger and Pat were blessed with two sons, Lon and Dan.

Roger attended Mankato Vo-Tech where he received his Masters and Journeyman’s Electrical Licenses. He worked for Newman Electric in Blue Earth for five years and then worked for the City of Fairmont for thirty-four years where he was the city electrical inspector for twenty-five of those years. He then worked in the electrical department of Fairmont Public Utilities until retiring in 1995. Roger also was a master electrician for Peterson Electric.

Roger was a member of many organizations including the Martin County Conservation Club, American Legion Post #36, Martin County Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #1222, Eagles Club, IAEI, IBEW, charter member of Fairmont Evangelical Covenant Church where he was an elder, and Martin County Bailiff.

Roger cherished time spent with the love of his life, Pat and he greatly honored her, and she was the passion in his life. Roger was very proud of his two sons and all of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Roger enjoyed fishing, coin collecting, local car races, playing cards and Mexican Train.

Left to cherish his memory include his sons, Lon (Marilyn) Oelke, of Ceylon, and Dan Oelke, of Florham Park, New Jersey; grandchildren, Nick (Amanda) Oelke, and daughter, Penny, Erik (Rachel) Oelke, and son, Otis, Mike (Kristel) Oelke, Nicole (Ali) Zaidi, Shannon (Matthew) Singleton, Angel (Matt) Moeller, Amber (Troy) Droegemueller, Tiffany (Ian) Larsen; 16 great-grandchildren; brother, Arden (Cindy) Oelke, of San Antonio, Florida; sister-in-law, Elaine Radohl, of Blue Earth; brothers-in-law, Robert (Marj) Sukalski, of Tucson, Arizona, Richard (Sandra) Sukalski, of Layton, Utah; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by wife, Patricia Oelke; his parents, Maynard and Blanche Oelke; parents-in-law, Thomas and Regina Sukalski; great-granddaughter, Merissa Droegemueller; and brother-in-law, Donald Radohl.