Alfred Ralph Oetken
Born: June 28th, 1921
Died: April 19th, 2013
Obituary
Alfred Ralph Oetken, 91, of Burlington, died at 12:30 PM Friday, April 19, 2013, at the Great River Hospice House in West Burlington. Born June 28, 1921, in Des Moines County, he was the son of August H. and Dora Bartusch Oetken. On February 13, 1955, he married Joanne Elizabeth Doebele in Burlington. Alfred was the warehouse supervisor at Merchants Wholesale Company for 35 years. He retired in 1988. He then worked for Great River Medical Center for 15 years delivering Meals on Wheels. He was a U.S. Army Veteran, serving during the World War II from October 15, 1942 until October 30, 1945. He had received a drivers badge with drivers bar, a Silver Star and five Bronze Stars. He received the Thank You America award from the French Government in 2001 for his service in the Normandy invasion. He was a member of the American Legion Post 52 and the VFW Post 10102, the Teamsters and attended Zion United Church of Christ. He was an avid gardener, sharing his bounty with everyone. Survivors include his wife, Joanne; two daughters, Dee Dee (Dennis) Glancy, and Nancy (Ted) Gutman, both of Burlington; four grandchildren, Ashlee (Luke) Barnes, Holly (Ryan) Luttenegger, Teddy Gutman and Benjamin Glancy; one great-grandchild, Lydia Jo Barnes; one brother, Robert (Maxine) Oetken of Danville; one sister, Frances M. Oetken of Burlington; and 14 nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Herbert Oetken and Raymond Oetken, and one sister, Helen Oetken. Visitation will be from 9:00 AM until 4:00 PM with the family to receive friends from 2:00 PM until 4:00 PM Sunday, April 21, 2013 at Thielen Funeral Home. The funeral service for Mr. Oetken will be 10:00 AM Monday, April 22, 2013, at Thielen Funeral Home with Chaplain Randy Gearhart officiating. Burial will be in Aspen Grove Cemetery. Full military honors will be rendered by the Burlington Area Veterans Honor Guard. A time of food and fellowship will be held in the community room at Thielen Funeral Home following the burial. Memorials have been established for the American Red Cross, Great River Hospice and Hope Haven. - See more at: http://www.thielenfuneralhome.com/obituary/Alfred-Ralph-Oetken/Burlington-IA/1200059#sthash.UF2Uifo8.dpuf