Edwin Fritz Oertli, Sr.

Edwin Fritz Oertli, Sr., age 91, of Johnson City, Texas, passed away on Thursday, June 12, 2014. Edwin was the fifth child born to Ernest and Amelia Oertli on January 5, 1923 in Watson Springs, Texas.

Raised by Ernest and his second wife, Willie Shirey, Edwin grew up in the Hill Country west of Austin. As a young man, Edwin worked in the Civilian Conservation Corps in Pflugerville, and went on to serve five years in the Navy. Edwin served in the South Pacific during World War II aboard the USS Pensacola, USS Columbia, and the USS Corregidor. He saw action in the Battles of Guadalcanal, Midway, BuinFaisi, Tassafaronga “Iron Bottom Bay”, Marshall Islands, Hollandia Operations, Saipan and Guam. At the end of the War, Edwin served in CASU-5 (Carrier Aircraft Support Unit) with Fighter Squadrons 41 and 66. Edwin married Betty Jane Bargsley on June 1, 1945 and they lived “on the hill” in Oak Hill, southwest of Austin.

They had five sons: Gary, Terry, Randy, Eddie, and Bruce. Edwin worked for many years as a brick mason and was known for his accurateness. In later years, he liked to point out buildings he worked on at Blinn College in Brenham as well as buildings in Killeen, Victoria, College Station and other areas of Texas. His favorite pasttime was reading western novels especially those by Louis L’Amour. Edwin and Betty moved to Mena, Arkansas, where they tried their hand at raising chickens. Texas eventually called them home and they settled in Johnson City.

Edwin was preceded in death by his wife, Betty Jane; his brothers, Ernest Oertli, Alvin Oertli, Bill Ostrick, George Ostrick, James Oertli; and sisters, Juanita Arnold, Patsy Branscum, Louise Toungate, and Katherine Haydon.

Edwin is survived by his sons, Gary (Wanda) Oertli of Bertram; Terry (Nancy) Oertli, of Brenham; Randy (Mary) Oertli, of Bastrop; Eddie (Tyra) Oertli, of Johnson City; and Bruce (Shelly) Oertli, of Stanton, Kentucky. Edwin loved his family and kept an array of his 18 grandchildren’s pictures in the dining room at home. He had 32 great grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews. Edwin is also survived by sisters and brothers, Curtis (Linda) Oertli of Victoria, Martha Faye (Charles) Dowdy, Jack “Red” Ostrick, and Stanley Ostrick. Edwin is also survived by his brothers-in-law, James (Mary Helen) Bargsley and John (Rawnie Sue) Bargsley all of Austin.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, June 18, 2014 at Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, June 19, 2014 in the Chapel of Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Memorial Park.

Honoring Mr. Oertli as pallbearers will be his grandsons, William Anthony Oertli, Brant Oertli, Jonathan Purvis, David Purvis, Edwin “Eddie” Oertli III, Matthew Oertli, Nathan Oertli, and Brad Stoddard.

The family wishes to thank the staff at LBJ Medical Center for caring for Edwin since his stroke in 2012.