Michael Charles Oberbillig

Michael Oberbillig, age 70 of Memphis Tennessee passed away peacefully September 5, 2020, due to prostate cancer. He was born July 12, 1950 in Minneapolis, MN to Elmer and Florence Oberbillig. Michael graduated from Memphis State (now University of Memphis) with a Masters Degree in Counseling. He was also a Licensed Professional Counselor.

From a young age, Michael developed a deep interest in animals, all kinds of animals, from his pet rabbit, duck, birds, dogs, and he even had an interest in raising mice. He’s always had a pet of some sort. As he got older, several special dogs became part of his family, then fish took his fancy. His fish lived 20 years and he finally passed them on to another fish enthusiast. Then came the raising of turkeys, various breeds of chickens and more beloved canine companions joined his family.

He was a people person and put his education to use working for a number of years in the mental health profession. Later in his career, he decided to work in the prison system helping inmates, and he and his wife moved to Collins, Georgia where he went to work at Georgia State Prison. Michael always wanted to help people and this job gave him much satisfaction.

In many ways, he enjoyed the simple things in life, like always cutting his own firewood, sitting around the fire pit enjoying a simple meal with his wife and dogs by his side. Many weekends were spent canoeing with his wife, hiking and enjoying nature.

It was in March 2012, that he met his wife, Cathy at the Kroger gas station on a Saturday afternoon. He, along with his Great Pyrenees Pearl and Schnauzer-Terrier Maggie riding in the bed of his red truck, was filling up with gas. Cathy pulled up to the pump on the opposite side, hopped out and began filling her gas tank, holding the cap in her hand. All of a sudden, she saw Michael looking around the pump as he said, “You have a place to rest the gas cap, do you mind if I come around and show you?” Pleasantries were exchanged and he asked for her phone number. She was open to meeting someone, yet someone of Gods choosing. A week later he called her. They began their courtship walking the dogs in various public parks, spending time getting to know one another. Several months went by, and Michael invited her to his church, St. John the Wonderworker in Atlanta, Georgia. She began visiting with him each and every Sunday. Shortly after several visits, they embarked on a plan to raise chickens together, supplying the Loaves and Fishes feeding program with fresh eggs every week. This venture proved to be a source of much happiness and joy for them in the daily care of the chickens, gathering the eggs and traveling to church with the back seat loaded with fresh eggs to supply the program. It was a true labor of love for them in more ways than one.

Michael proposed, Cathy accepted and their journey led them to Collins Georgia where he worked with inmates at Georgia State Prison. Living life in a small rural town suited them both, plus there was plenty of room for their Anatolian Shepard, Athos. Michael was a wonderful gardener, he was quite precise in laying out the dimension, lining the rows up with string, making sure everything was just so. Growing tomatoes and peppers proved to be the most prolific crops. Later he turned his attention to roses, another success. Living this rural life provided he and Cathy a place to enjoy daily bike rides with Athos, fishing and canoeing in the neighbors pond and enjoying nature right at their backdoor.

He is preceeded in death by his parents Elmer and Florence Oberbillig. Survived by his beloved wife Cathy, sister Pat Bogan, Son Stephen Oberbillig, nephews Mark Bogan (Lynda), Michael Bogan (Rebecca), Kelley Bogan and Kim Bogan Gessner (Richard), seven grand nieces and nephews, and seven great grand nieces and nephews.

Services will be Tuesday, September 8, at 10:00a.m. at St. John Orthodox Church, 1663 Tutwiler Avenue, Memphis Tennessee. Burial at a later date, West Tennessee Veterans Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to St. John Orthodox Church, 1663 Tutwiler Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee 38107.