Rodger L Oettchen, age 74, of Atlantic, IA, and originally of Adair, IA, passed away on Monday, October 18, 2021, at CHI Health Immanuel Medical Center in Omaha, NE.
Rodger and Linda met in Stuart, IA at the skating rink. He impressed her with his fancy footwork. In his later years, he taught their kids how to roller-skate too. Rodger and Linda spent most of their married years living in Adair where Rodger enjoyed camping, fishing, working on various cars, and attending swap meets where he would “dicker” to get the best price.
Rodger worked in the heating & cooling industry for thirty-plus years, meeting many people, most of them he still considered friends. He never met a stranger.
After moving to Atlantic in 2016, Rodger became active in some newfound activities. Such as perfecting his fishing cast, arranging his tackle box, and taking up golf at “Nish”, together he has made wonderful new friends.
Those who left to cherish Rodger’s memory, laugh, jokes, and stories, are his wife, Linda of 54 years; daughter Kathy Travis and her husband Doug of Lewis, IA; son Wade and his wife Theresa of Atlantic, IA; his favorite granddaughter Kate Oettchen of Atlantic, IA; grandsons Nathan Stone and Shawn (Melissa) Stone all of Colorado Springs, CO, Jeremy (Kyla) Stone of Atlantic, IA; great-grandchildren, Kaiden, Elena, Everly, Alexis, Landen, Adalyn, Harley; special grandson Kody Havens of Adel, IA; sisters Lavonne (Steve) Sorensen of Bargersville, IN, Charlene of Schnulle of Hanlontown, IA; and many beloved friends.
Preceded in Rodger’s death are his parents, Bernard and Geraldine (Bales) Oettchen, and son-in-law Richard Stone.
Open visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., family present from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Thursday, October 21, 2021, at the Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Atlantic, IA. A prayer service will be held at 7:00 p.m., on Thursday, with Pastor Dave Anderson officiating from Lewis Church of Christ.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family in honor of Rodger and will be designated to some of his favorite passions and organizations. Memorials may be mailed to Schmidt Family Funeral Homes P.O. Box 523, Atlantic, IA 50022.
The staff at Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Atlantic, IA, is handling the arrangements for the Oettchen Family. Condolences may be left at www.schmidtfamilyfuneralhomes.com