Cottage Grove sentinel., June 10, 2015, Image 2

2A COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL June 10, 2015
IN MEMORIAM
Melvin Clarence
Osterman
1932-2015
Melvin Clarence Osterman,
82, longtime resident of Itasca
County, passed away in Cottage
Grove May 30, 2015, from Pul-
monary Fibrosis.
He was born Oct. 3, 1932, in
Evergreen,
Minn.
to
Clarence
and Frieda
(Feldt) Os-
terman.
Melvin
was a car
salesman
for 27 years in Grand Rapids,
Minn. and a Motel 6 Manager
for 11 years in Oregon and Cali-
fornia. He served three years in
the U.S. Army during the Ko-
rean War.
Melvin married Allace Myers
on Dec. 5, 1975.
Melvin enjoyed fi shing,
camping and traveling and was
a member of the Trinity Luther-
an Church.
He is survived by his wife
Allace Osterman of Cottage
Grove, two sons, Michael (Su-
san) Osterman of Medford and
Brian (Donna) Osterman of
Grand Rapids, Minn., a daugh-
ter, Sherri Osterman Beddoe
of Grand Rapids, Minn., six
step-daughters, Carol Hinnen-
kemp of Hawthorne, Wisc.,
Peggy (Mike) Keppler of Cot-
tage Grove, Virginia (James)
McNichols of Las Vegas, Nev.,
Kathryn Wohlrabe of Grand
Rapids, Minn., Barbara (Steve)
Ednie of Coos Bay, and Eva Bas-
sett of Eugene, two step-sons,
Leslie Adams of Grand Rapids,
Minn. and Thomas (Bert) Wag-
ner of Hibbing, Minn., a broth-
er, Alvin Osterman of Minn.,
31 grandchildren and 39 great-
grandchildren.
Melvin was preceded in death
by step-son Ivan Wagner, broth-
ers Albert and Lavern “Johnny”
Osterman, two infant sisters and
granddaughter Bonnie Vincent.
A Celebration of Life was
held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, June
Kreklau
graduates
from Bethany
Lutheran
College
Stephanie Kreklau, daughter of
Carl and Mary Kreklau of Cot-
tage Grove, graduated with a
Bachelor of Arts degree with a
major in English from Bethany
Lutheran College in Mankato,
Minn. on May 15, 2015, the
school recently announced.
Kreklau was a 2011 graduate of
Cottage Grove High School.
Bethany Lutheran College is a
private liberal arts college that
opened in 1927; it is owned and
operated by the Evangelical
Lutheran Synod.
6, 2015 at Trinity Lutheran
Church in Cottage Grove. In
lieu of fl owers, memorial do-
nations may be made to Trinity
Lutheran Church, 675 S. 7th St.,
Cottage Grove, OR 97424. Ar-
rangements under the care of
Smith-Lund-Mills Funeral Cha-
pel, Cottage Grove. Please sign
the guestbook at www.smith-
lundmills.com
Death notice
Esther Ida Van Brocklin, 95
years old of Cottage Grove, died
May 31. No service is planned.
Arrangements by Andreason’s
Cremation & Burial Service in
Springfi eld.
Memorial Notices
A Celebration of Life will be
held for Lester Bachmann on
June 12, 2015 at 2 p.m. at Smith-
Lund-Mills Funeral Chapel, 123
S. 7th St. in Cottage Grove. A
reception will follow at the Cot-
tage Grove Elks Lodge.
A Celebration of Life will be
held for Frank Dockery, 96, of
Cottage Grove on Sunday, June
14 at 1 p.m. at the VFW Hall,
3160 Hillside Dr., Cottage
Grove. Arrangements under the
care of Musgrove Family Mor-
tuary, Eugene.
A Celebration of Life will be
held for Charles Philip "Bud"
Freeman of Eugene, on Satur-
day, June 20, at 11 a.m. at the
Church of Christ, 6th & Gibbs
in Cottage Grove. Inurnment
at Bonney Cemetery in Colton,
Ore. Arrangements under the
care of Major Family Funeral
Home, Springfi eld.
Clifford George
Williams
1915-2015
Clifford George Williams was
born Aug. 24, 1915 to Thomas
and Phoebe Williams. Clifford
was fi ve when the family moved
from Canada to Wheeler, Ore.
He was 12 when they bought
land in Cot-
tage Grove
and started
farming
there. After
growing up
fast, he and
his father
farmed and
logged.
Clifford high climbed for oth-
er loggers, topped and helped
rig the trees to log with. He also
ran a wood yard before getting
injured in 1951. The loss of his
lower left leg didn't seem to
slow him down. Cliff had a love
of horses and in 1948, helped
Norma Lee Lewis-Van died
Wednesday, May 20th, 2015 in
Riverbend Sacred Heart Hospital
in Eugene Oregon. She had been
living in a nearby nursing home
for a few months, after a fall in late
March. She was diagnosed with
Lung Cancer at that time, and died
of complications associated with the
disease.
Norma Lee Lewis was born on
January 30th, 1939 in Cottage Grove, Oregon, to Evelyn (Coiner)
and Norman Lewis. She was the oldest of their 3 children, and is
survived by both of her brothers, Jack Lewis of Minneapolis, MN,
and Marshall Lewis of Portland, OR.
Norma grew up in Cottage Grove, and moved with her family
to Arcata, CA while in High School.
She was married to Gerry Willis Van in 1956. They had 6
children together before their divorce in 1967.
Norma had many interests and hobbies. She was heavily into
genealogy, and spent years tracing the history of the Coiner Family.
She loved antiques, and collected and sold for years. She
also enjoyed a variety of crafts; crochet, needlework, drawing and
painting.
Norma worked for the State of Washington, and Memorial
Clinic, as a Medical Transcriber in Olympia for many years. She
moved to Colorado for a short time, to be near her daughter. She
moved back to Washington for several years, before her fi nal move
back to Cottage Grove in 2000, where she was born, and has lived
ever since.
Her grandfather, Lester Coiner, was the City Engineer of
Cottage Grove for almost 40 years, and there is a park named for
him.
She is survived by her four daughters, Lori Van, of Redding,
CA, Michele Griffi ths of Olympia, WA, Jackie Bensley of Olympia,
WA, and Penny Van, of Vancouver, WA.
She is also survived by 9 grandchildren, and 7 great-
grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her two sons, Pat Rick
Van, and Carey Willis Van.
A Memorial Service will be held at Coiner Park in August.
Please make memorial donations to The American Cancer Society.
06-11-63 to 01-13-12
Happy Birthday Terry!
Love, Mom
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FRED HARDING
1935-2015
Fred Harding, 80, of
Cottage Grove, OR passed
away on April 29, 2015. He was
born March 26, 1935 in Boston,
MA. He married his soul
mate, Judith Marie Hartzell on
April 4, 1959, in San Bruno,
CA. Together they traveled
the world, before settling in
Cottage Grove, OR with their
children. He received many
honors while enlisted in the
U.S. Air Force serving during the Korean and Vietnam Wars.
Fred had served as the Post Chaplain for the Cottage Grove
VFW Post 3473 and enjoyed visiting veterans at local nursing
homes. Upon retiring from the Air Force, Fred returned to college.
He graduated from New York State University with a degree in
Law Enforcement. He was never satisfi ed with “good enough”; he
continued his education in a variety of subject matters earning
many additional certifi cations. He also worked for Lane County
Sheriff ’s Offi ce as an offi cer and fi nally for Bi-Mart in Cottage
Grove before deciding he was ready to PLAY full time.
He enjoyed outdoor adventures that included camping, fi shing,
kayaking, scuba-diving, and backpacking. He loved watching and
reading Westerns; as well as spending time with home and yard
improvements. Fred honored his wife’s wishes for a closer golf
range, by building her a putting green in their front yard. More
important, Fred loved Jesus! He lived life in a Christian manner. He
attended Cottage Grove Faith Center, striving to be a true example
of what it means to be a Christian. When there was someone or
a situation that might benefi t from his many skills, as long as he
deemed it honorable, he was willing to off er his assistance. Fred
became a licensed clergyman to preside over his families wedding
ceremonies.
Fred remained fi rmly rooted in the Air Force’s Core Values
throughout his life. A man of integrity he maintained self-control,
respected others, consistently off ered service and excellence before
self.
Fred is survived by his beloved Shih Tzu dog, Gi-Gi; sister-
in-law, Janet Taylor of Marcola, OR; son, Weston Harding;
grandchildren, Britton Hicks, Levi Harding and Tristan Harding;
niece, Melissa Taylor-Coultrup, nephew, Justin Taylor and 2 great-
grandchildren, Th or and Freya. He was preceded in death by his
wife, Judy (2013), daughter, Cheryl Harding (1997) and son, Darin
Harding (2000).
A celebration-of- life will be held Saturday, June 13 at 11 a.m.
at Smith-Lund-Mills Funeral Chapel, 123 S. 7th St. Cottage Grove,
OR. A reception will follow at the VFW Post #3473. Everyone
is welcome and encouraged to write down and bring a special
thought or memory of Fred. In lieu of fl owers, Fred would ask that
you make a donation to Cottage Grove’s VFW Post # 3473, 3160
Hillside Drive, Cottage Grove, Or 97424.
Thomas Lyle Irwin
January 1922 – June 2015
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Terry B.
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Norma Lee Lewis-Van
1939-2015
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since 1889
start Cottage Grove's Rodeo
and Riding Club. He belonged
to the Oregon Pleasure Walk-
ing Horse Club, and was one of
the trail bosses. After moving to
Redmond in 1953 he farmed,
logged, worked construction and
rode often. During retirement,
horses took center stage. He
enjoyed spending time attend-
ing and participating in Cutting
Horse and Showmanship shows.
He won many of those events,
despite only having one leg.
Cliff and Irene were married
in 1955. He has a son, Harvey,
and a daughter, Vivian. A son,
George Williams, passed away
in 1987. Irene passed away in
1993. Cliff has fi ve grandchil-
dren, six great-grandchildren,
and eight great-great grandchil-
dren.
Visitation, Saturday, June 13
from 9-11 a.m. at Redmond
Memorial Chapel, 717 SW 6th
St., Redmond with graveside
service following at 11 a.m. at
Redmond Memorial Cemetery,
3545 SW Canal Blvd, Red-
mond. Reception after that at
Redmond Memorial Chapel.
Memorial contributions may
be made to a charity of one's
choosing. May sign guestbook
at www.redmondmemorial.com
www.andreasons.com
541- 485-6659
Lyle was a member of “The Greatest Generation” born
January 1922 at an old Pony Express Station that had been
converted to a home outside Axtell, KS. Died on the 71 st
Anniversary of D-Day due to age related illnesses.
Lyle married Edna L. Gullickson October 1942, his wife of
72 years who survives him. Also survived by daughters Carol
Jean (Roger) Braswell of Cottage Grove, Marsh (Gordon) Garry
of Vacaville, CA., and son Randy Irwin of Cottage Grove. Lyle
was preceded in death by his parents Thomas Jefferson and Della
Ellen, two brothers Glenn and Lloyd, and a sister Mable.
Thomas was a WWII Veteran drafted into the US Army
October 1942 promoted to Corporal. Assigned to the 9 th Armored
Division, 27 th Infantry Battalion, Company B-Combat Command B “The Phantom Division”.
Trained at Ft. Riley, KS; Camp Polk, LA; and Camp Ibis, CA.
Lyle fought at St. Vith and several other locations during the Battle of the Bulge. He also
fought in the Ardennes Forest at Rhineland and the Battle at Remagen hen the 9 th captured the
Ludendorff Bridge over the Rhine River at Remagen. Lyle was proud to be recognized as the driver
of the fi rst armored half-track across the Ludendorff Bridge into Germany,=. He was a major and
minor battles all across central Europe.
For heroic service and meritorious service in a combat zone, Lyle was awarded three Bronze
Service Stars, Bronze Star Medal GO 188 HQ 9 th ARMD DIV 45. Other awards included the
combat infantry badge, the Presidential Unit Citation, and numerous battle campaign ribbons.
Lyle and Edna moved to Cottage Grove in 1947 and Lyle began working in the woods then
numerous local lumber mills. During the mid-1960’s
moved to San Fernando Valley, CA and was a welding
inspector for Rocketdyne. Rocketdyne built the Saturn
5 rockets for the Apollo moon missions. Returning to
Cottage Grove in 1967, he retired from B&B Equipment
in 1984 as a chainsaw mechanic.
With much support from his family he realized his
fi nal wish to die at home in his own bed.
A funeral will be held on Monday June 15 at 2 pm at
Smith Lund Mills Chapel in Cottage Grove, Oregon.
Interment at Willamette National Cemetery, Portland,
Oregon.
In lieu of fl owers Memorial contributions maybe
made to the Humane Society of Cottage Grove, Po Box
61, Cottage Grove, Oregon 97242