Gene Oelke Gene Duerk Oelke, 95, of Defiance, passed away Thursday, February 16th, 2017 at Glenn Park of Defiance. He was born in Defiance, on September 30, 1921, the son of the late Herman and Gertrude (Duerk) Oelke. Gene was a 1939 graduate of Defiance High School. He served overseas during WW II in Germany, as a Seaman 1st Class in the U.S. Navy. In 1959 he married Helen A. (Nihiser) Oelke who died in 1991. Gene had worked as a brick mason and semi truck broker retiring in 1970. He was a life member of the Defiance VFW and AMVETS. A member of the Brick Layers Union. He was member of St. John Lutheran Church, loved to hunt, golf and fish. He was a winemaker, enjoyed big band music and was a good story teller. Gene will be missed by his brother John Oelke of Defiance, a sister Helen (James) Slow of N. Topsail Island Beach, NC. Nephews: Jack Schilperoot of Toledo, Trib (Paula) Slow of Alexandria, ND, Jan (Becky) Schilperoot of Defiance, Kim (Joy) Oelke of Defiance, Baird Slow of Defiance. Nieces: Linda Brown of Appleton, WI, Susan (Greg) Becker of Sherwood, Lori (Kenny) Olson of Defiance, Toby (Jerry) Richards of Defiance, Julia (Denny) Dominique of Defiance and Jennifer (Chris) Grubbs of Deep Run NC. He was preceded in death by his wife Helen, parents, brother Omer Oelke, sisters Trudi Schilperoot and Gertrude Oelke. Services for Gene will be at St. John Lutheran Church at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 18th, with Rev. Donald Luhring officiating. Visitation is Friday 4-8 p.m. at Lawson-Roessner Funeral Home and one hour prior to the services Saturday at St. John Lutheran Church. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery where VFW Post #3360 will conduct honorary military graveside rites. Suggested memorials are to St. Jude Children's Hospital, Shriners Children's Hospital or the church.Condolences may be shared with the family at www.lawsonroessner.com

Visitation

FEB 17. 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM (EST)

Lawson-Roessner Funeral Home 1753 S. Clinton St. Defiance, OH, 43512

Visitation

FEB 18. 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM (EST)

St. John Lutheran Church 655 Wayne Ave. Defiance, OH, 43512

Service

FEB 18. 11:00 AM (EST)

St. John Lutheran Church 655 Wayne Ave. Defiance, OH, 43512