Robert Oemcke

Robert Oemcke, 99, died in Panama City, FL on July 19, 2021. He was born on May 1, 1922 in Minneapolis, MN to Viola and Henry Oemcke. Robert graduated in 1940 from North High School, completed his pre-dental work at St. Thomas and received his DDS degree from the University of MN in 1945, his Army assignment.  He was then transferred to the Navy and served in Japan and remained active in the Naval Reserve for thirty years. Robert married Jeanne Norman on June 9, 1946 in San Diego, CA, and they raised four children, Christine, Michael, Mary, and John.  He worked as a dentist at the St. Cloud VA Hospital. In retirement, he and Jeanne lived in Panama City, FL, returning  each summer to their lake home on Whitefish.

Robert was a charter member of the Whitefish Golf Club.  He had also been a member of the St. Cloud Country Club and Bay Point in FL.  Robert had been a member of Holy Angels Parish in St. Cloud and St. Bernadette in Panama City Beach.  He attended St. Alice in Pequot Lakes during all the summers in his life.

Robert was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, daughter-in-law, Sandra Oemcke; son-in-law, Charles Schramm; sisters and brothers-in-law: Wendell and Constance Swenson, Jim and Tootie Norman, Marge and Roger Mangni, Jack and Joyce Norman, Roger Norman, Lois and John Myers; and nephew, David Swenson. He is survived by his children: Christine Bettendorf (husband Tom), of Panama City,  Michael Oemcke (wife Barbara) of Cushing, MN, Mary Oemcke of Seattle, John Oemcke, loving caregiver of Panama City;  and grandchildren: Kent Bettendorf of Mound, Kathryn Cocker (husband Chad) of Pine Island, MN, and Spencer Schramm of Seattle.

The family would is grateful for the dedicated care of hospices Knute-Nelson in MN and Emerald Coast in FL, home health care agencies SSC, and Bright Star and Grace Loves as well as Sims FL Home for Veterans.

Memorials may be made in Robert’s memory to a charity of the donor’s choice.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 AM on Thursday, August 19, at St. Alice Catholic Church, Pequot Lakes. Visitation will begin at 9:30 AM until the time of Mass. Inurnment will be in Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis.