Earline Oertli

She had courageously battled cancer and other complications for the past year. Earline was born in Moulton, Texas on March 5, 1936 to Henry and Bess (Biehunko) Kotzebue.

She spent most of her youth in Victoria, graduating from Patti Welder High School in 1954. After attending Texas Lutheran College for a year, she returned home and began working at Union Carbide, where she met the love of her life, Charles Oertli.

Earline and Charlie were married for 56 years until his death in 2013. She was a lifelong member of the Lutheran church, and held many service and leadership roles throughout her life. She worked at the Texas Automobile Dealers Association for 33 years until her retirement in 1999. She enjoyed traveling the world, especially on cruises, and loved University of Texas sports, with the Lady Longhorn basketball team as her favorite. Earline had been active in bowling at Saengerrunde, and always appreciated when the national tournaments were held in Reno.

Earline was preceded in death by her husband Charles H. Oertli.

She is survived by children, Cindy Thomas and husband, David, Diane Streit and husband, Eric, Chuck Oertli and wife, Lori; her much loved grandchildren, Brad Thomas, Kellie English (Jimmy), Whitney Linder (Nick), Christopher Streit, Blaine Oelschlegel (Sam), Courtney Vaughan (Dustin), Jack Oertli, Kristin Oertli; and seven great-grandchildren with one more on the way.

A memorial service will be held at St. Martin’s Ev. Lutheran Church in Austin, Texas on Saturday, December 28 at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the St. Martin’s Endowment Fund.