Obituary of Vernon R. Oestmann

Vernon R. Oestmann, 80, of South Coffeyville, OK passed away Monday, December 12, 2016, at Coffeyville Regional Medical Center. He was born on July 19, 1936, at Grainola, OK to Richard John and Ella Emma (Wolff) Oestmann. When Vernon was young his family moved to Chelsea, OK where he grew up and attended school graduating from Chelsea High School. On November 23, 1958, he was united in marriage to the love of his life Elva Mathes at Chelsea, OK. Following their marriage they lived in Chelsea before moving to Nowata, OK where they made their home until 1971 when they moved to Havana, KS. In 1973 they moved to their farm in rural South Coffeyville, OK where they operated a dairy farm for many years. Vernon was a long time member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Coffeyville. He lived his passion through working on the farm; working ground, raising cattle, chickens and other farm animals, planting gardens and trees in the orchard. But his greatest love was spending time with his family and sharing his love for the land and the animals he raised. Survivors include his wife, Elva of the home; his six children, Patricia “Patty” O’Shields and husband John of Bolton, KS, Larry Oestmann and wife Debbi of South Coffeyville, OK, Karen Wilson and husband Jim of South Coffeyville, OK, Terry Oestmann of Woodbine, IA, Nancy Turney and husband Lincoln of South Coffeyville, OK, and Twylla Hassell of Stillwater, OK; one sister, Leola Rippe and husband Lawrence of Newkirk, OK; seventeen grandchildren, Taylor Oestmann, Amanda Grounds and husband Matt, Richard Oestmann and wife Haley, Brooke Hampton and husand James, Whitney Decker, Kacie Ortiz and husband Lucas, Jamie Wilson and Ryan Nichols, Rachel Oestmann, Marissa Oestmann, Brock Halbrook and wife Kathleen, Lindsey Davis and husband Jared, Lacey Truesdell and husband Michael, Wyatt Turney, Alisha Fryar and husband Ryan, Tristan O’Shields, Deandrea O’Shields, and Moneaquea O’Shields; and great-grandchildren, Eva and Isaac Grounds; Jazzi and Drake Hampton; Rylan Decker, Chloe Baldwin; Shaylynne, Emilie and Elizabeth Halbrook; Cashius and Rocket Davis; Zola Truesdell; Ridge, Ryatt and Rozlynn Fryar. He was preceded in death by his parents; one daughter, Elverna Fae Oestmann; one great-granddaughter, Madison Decker; one son-in-law, Jonathan David Hassell; and one brother, Elmer Oestmann. Services will be at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, December 15, 2016, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Coffeyville with Rev. Roland Vega officiating. Burial will follow in Mt. Washington Cemetery at Lenapah, OK. Friends may call on Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the David W. Barnes Funeral Home in Coffeyville. The family will receive friends on Wednesday from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church; contributions may be left with the funeral home or mailed c/o David W. Barnes Funeral Home, 306 North Cline Road, Coffeyville, KS 67337.