Elton Oltjenbruns

Elton Gerald Oltjenbruns died Feb. 7, 2017, at Regent Park in Holyoke, surrounded by his loving family. He was 96.
    Elton was born on the family farm southwest of Holyoke Aug. 23, 1920, to Harry and Amelia (Welper) Oltjenbruns.
    Elton rode a pony to the Lakeside Country School southwest of Holyoke. After completing the eighth grade, he helped many of the neighbors with their farming and hand-picked corn for friends in the Fairfield area and for family in northeast Nebraska.
    Elton was baptized into the Lutheran faith in Amherst Oct. 3, 1920, by Pastor Otto Hoyer and reaffirmed his faith June 10, 1934, at Zion Lutheran Church in Holyoke with Pastor R. Einspahr.
    He lived with his parents southwest of Holyoke until 1939, then his family moved to a farm southwest of Amherst. At that time, he joined St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Amherst. He was an active member in the church, holding many offices, teaching Sunday School and attending many district conventions, and he was a delegate to the Synodical Convention in Cleveland, Ohio.
    Elton was drafted into the United States Army in 1942 and served his country for the next three years in Texas, New Jersey and Germany, where he spent nine months in combat with the 102nd Infantry Division as a medic and ambulance driver, earning the good conduct medal, two bronze stars, a medical medal, and the American defense, Army occupation and Dutch Liberation medals.
    In 1979, he and his wife, Eunice, went back to Europe with a group from the 102nd Division to retrace their steps during their combat. After his discharge in 1945, he became a life member of the American Legion and VFW, where he was proud to serve in many local, district and state department offices.
    Elton married Eunice Krueger March 9, 1947, and to this union four daughters were born: Susan, Sally, Jeri and Teri. Elton and Eunice were blessed with 69 years together.
    Elton was a loving husband, father, brother and uncle to his family. He loved his community and served in many capacities. He was a charter member and served 23 years on the Amherst Fire Department. He served on the elevator board for many years and the Holyoke School Board, serving at the time the bond issue was passed for the current high school. He was a Phillips County commissioner and a board member of the Colorado Wheat Growers Association.
    Elton was a successful wheat farmer and cattle rancher, teaching his trades to his daughters. In 1980, Elton and Eunice turned the farm over to the family and moved into Holyoke.
    In retirement, Elton continued to help with the farming when needed and continued his hobbies of carving wooden ducks, many of which he donated to the Pheasants Forever fundraiser, along with refinishing and restoring furniture.
    Eunice has fond memories of Elton and his love for traveling. They would visit his old Army buddies at the yearly 102nd reunion. He served as president of the 102nd Division in 1994 during the reunion in San Francisco, California. Together they traveled to 47 states, along with two trips to Germany and a Panama Canal cruise.
    Elton was preceded in death by his parents, Harry and Amelia Oltjenbruns; sisters, Evelyn Franson and Glendora Severson; and son-in-law, Kenneth Roll.
    He will be greatly missed by his wife, Eunice; daughters, Susan Roll-Walters and husband Larry, Sally Saling and husband Donald, Jeri Jones and husband Terry, and Teri Boyd and husband Harold; seven grandchildren, Michelle Roll, Jeff Roll, Carrie Kraft, Jamie Roll, Angela Stephenson, Stephen Saling and Scott Saling; 11 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; twin brother, Milton Oltjenbruns; sister, Clara Heerman; and many other relatives and friends.
    The funeral service was held Feb. 13 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Amherst, with Pastor Kurt Hatteberg officiating. Interment followed at the Amherst Cemetery.
    Memorial donations may be made to Northeast Zone Scholarship Fund, Orphan Grain Train or the Lutheran Hour.
    Baucke Funeral Home directed the service.