Steven A Oltmann Sr.

Steven, known by his friends and family as Steve from the time he was young, had a love for the outdoors and wanderlust for wide open spaces. He grew up on the north side of Columbus but was always sneaking away on his bike or dirtbike to fields, ponds, and farms on the north side of town to try to get out of the “city” and find his next outdoor adventure. At 11 years old he even packed a bag, left a note, and “ran away” to try to get a job on a farm.

In 1975, shortly after Steve graduated from Northland High School, Steve’s family moved to the Johnstown area, where he started Steve Oltmann Sawdust, Inc, which he operated for 51 years. He married the love of his life, Susan L (Riley) Oltmann, on June 30, 1979. She has been by his side supporting and contributing to all his adventures from businesses, to vacations, to raising their two children, and continuing to pursue the desire for outdoor adventure and room to roam.

Steve was greatly influenced by a great aunt and great uncle who had a farm near Circleville, Ohio, when he was young. Trips to that farm as a child put something deep in his heart to be able to share something like this with others. In 1999, Steve and Susan were able to purchase a farm of their own near Utica, Ohio, where they strived to share it the way his aunt and uncle did with friends, family, and even strangers.

Steve often said, “Every kid needs a grandpa with a farm.” He made it his mission to be that grandpa, to his own 5 grandchildren, his niece and nephews, as well as to almost every family he met. He loved to have them all come ride his horses, fish in his pond, and experience what God had blessed him with. He loved to ride, rope, and work cattle with his friend Dale and his grandson Riley, and was doubly blessed when he got to use this passion in a way where he could share it with others, teaching countless children to ride and throw a rope.

His farm has been host to many church groups, birthday parties, weddings, family gatherings, and Sunday afternoon horse riding lessons, where at the conclusion or meal time, Steve would often take the opportunity to pray, or even give a devotion, thanking God for blessing him so greatly, and explaining his conviction to find your passion and to use it and the blessings you have been given to show God’s love to others.

Along with sharing his farm and his blessings close to home with others, Steve and Susan loved to take off on adventures traveling to see the wide-open spaces of the west, fishing for walleyes on Lake Erie, as well as taking family vacations with their children and grandchildren to enjoy the deep mountain lakes of east Tennessee, swimming in the clean, clear water and fishing for huge striped bass.

Steve deeply loved his family and cared for each of them with a consistent, patient love that everyone knew they could count on. He was the first call for many in times of need and in times of success, including his wife, sister, children, grandchildren, cousins, niece and nephews. He is survived by his father, Adular Oltmann, his loving wife of 47 years, Susan Oltmann, his children Steven (Briana) Oltmann and Lyndsay (Eric) Nauman, and his grandchildren who each had a special place in “Paw Paw’s” heart: Riley, his cowboy and right hand man; Elaina, his cowgirl Lainey girl; Janie, his artist and art buddy; Russell, his tractor and equipment buddy; and Mack, his big Mack and comedian. He is also survived by his sister Karyn (John) Compton, his niece Amelia, and his nephews Hayden and Tanner, who he dearly loved supporting through all of their sports and hobbies from the saddle, to the ballfield, to the water, and to the woods.

He also leaves behind many close family and friends with whom he loved to share all his blessings whenever possible.

Steve was preceded in death by his loving mother Mary Lou Oltmann, who instilled so much of the care and love in him that he generously shared with others, as well as his brother and former business partner Martin D Oltmann.

Steve and Susan were members of and raised their family at the Church of Christ at Alexandria, where he served as a deacon. He had a heart for getting kids outdoors to show them God’s creation, and for missions local and abroad, especially in Haiti.

He will be greatly missed by his family and friends here, but they find peace knowing his citizenship is now in heaven with his savior Jesus.

Family and friends may pay their respects at Centerburg Church of Christ (3830 Columbus Road, Centerburg, Ohio) on Friday July 24th from 6:00pm - 8:00pm and on Saturday July 25th from 10:30am - 11:30am with funeral service immediately following at 11:30am.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his honor directly to the One Heart Stables ministry at Christian Children’s Home of Ohio at https://ccho.org/give (Tribute: Steve Oltmann, Gift Notes: One Heart Stables) or donations can be made payable to Christian Children’s Home of Ohio with One Heart Stables in the memo line and put in a designated box at the services.