Kenneth Harland Oelkers

Kenneth Harland Oelkers Ken passed away December 19, 2017 in Cambridge, Minnesota, surrounded by his family. He was born January 3, 1940 in Lake City, Minnesota to Harland and Ruth Oelkers. Ken’s mother passed away just before his fourth birthday and he was raised by his grandmother Anna Blaisdell in Lake City. He joined the Army after high school and spent time in France with the 543rd Engineers from 1959 to 1962. He was a very proud veteran. Ken owned a Phillips 66 gas station in Minneapolis, then worked for Abbey Rents before starting his own tent rental business, K & L Tent Rental. Ken also owned Oelkers Game Farm and raised beautiful show pheasants, ducks, geese and many other types of birds and animals for many years. At the age of 50, he sold his tent business and game farm and moved to the north shore living in Two Harbors then Silver Bay for 20 years. He enjoyed the Superior Hiking Trail very much, he volunteered many hours working on the trail and he was the Trail Maintenance Supervisor for several years. He managed volunteer teams building bridges and campsites. He would hike with his chainsaw or weed trimmer all day, clearing trails. During the winter months he routered and painted trail signs. He loved the hiking trail and the north shore and he made some very dear friends along the way that all shared that love of the area. Ken also had a fascination with Alaska and collected every book he could find on Alaska. He traveled there one time and he enjoyed it very much. He moved back to the north metro to be near family as his health started keeping him from doing the things he loved so much on the north shore. The kids and grandkids got to see him much more and spend quality time with him in his last 5 years. He had an affection for squirrels and spent most of his time either building structures for them, feeding and watering them, or just watching them for hours. Ken is survived by his daughter Karen (Loren) Reis and grandchildren Brent, Kevin, Caitlin and Max, daughter Sharon (James) Thorndike and grandchildren Ken, Tony and Samantha, daughter Shelly (Jim) Hervey and grandchildren Wyatt, Rebecka and Brett and son Richard (Christine) Oelkers and granddaughter Nicole. He Is also survived by his nephew that lived with the family for 10 years and was very close to Ken, Jim (Kris) Oelkers and their children Jo Marie, Michael and Mason. Also surviving Ken is his brother Jim (Pat) Oelkers. Ken read his bible every night, with his cats snuggled nearby and his wood stove blazing hot in the winter months or in his den in the warmer months in front of a window where he watched his squirrels. He recited his favorite verse just before his death (John 3:16) and told us not to worry, he knew where he was going. He will be missed, but his family is so happy he is with his mother and grandmother again in heaven. Visitation 4-7PM Wednesday, January 3, 2018 with prayer service at 6:30PM at Washburn-McReavy New Brighton Chapel, 706 4th Ave. NW, New Brighton. 651-636-9821

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Kenneth Harland Oelkers

December 19, 2017

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