Patricia Ann Oehler was born in Austin, Minnesota to James and Helen Tate on 11 July, 1933. She went to school at Austin High School. She married Ronald Oehler on 30 August, 1957 at First United Methodist Church in Northwood, IA. She worked as a Bookkeeper for Hormel for 20 years. She was a devoted wife and loving mother. She enjoyed antique shopping with her husband, gardening and birdwatching.
Patricia Ann Oehler is survived by husband Ronald Oehler, children Cydnee Baffa (Ernie), Jeff Oehler, Kevin Oehler (Judy), Tom Judd, Randy Judd, Karen Kelly; grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
If you can, please donate to the Alzheimer’s Association.
A loving remembrance from Ronald Eugene Oehler to his wife
Pat left this world about 529a on this Monday morn. She left quietly and had no pain.
We had just finished our bath and rub down with a nice lemon scented lotion. We had just taken our daily meds and covered with a newly laundered bamboo sheet.
Pat gave two short breaths and that quickly she left for a better place. I had thought that having done some reading on the effects of Alzheimer’s, I was prepared for this. I was wrong. You can know or think you know, the answers so you are well adjusted for the inevitable. I was hurt, suddenly alone and no one to share my daily ups and downs with. I am in a strange world right now. Sons and daughters and friends are there to offer comfort and help. But they go home and once again the feeling of unfairness enters the thought process. None of this is healthy, I know, but it is there and must be met and dealt with because it will be there always in the background, waiting to engulf you and torture your thoughts.
I will fight this by remembering how full Pat made my life and I was indeed the recipient of love and companionship of a special person. So Thank You Lord for the many years you granted us together. I shall not linger in the land of self pity but consider myself One lucky guy. Thank You again, Lord.
A loving remembrance from Ronald Eugene Oehler to his wife
Here are a few words I have borrowed from WH Auden that convey my feelings far better than I can.
‘He replaced w/ She’. Apologies to the author
Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,
Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,
Silence the pianos and with muffled drum
Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.
Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead
Scribbling on the sky the message She is Dead.
Put crepe bows round the white necks of the public doves,
Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves.
She was my North, my South, my East and West,
My working week and my Sunday rest,
My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song;
I thought that love would last forever: I was wrong.
The stars are not wanted now; put out every one,
Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun,
Pour away the ocean and sweep up the woods;
For nothing now can ever come to any good.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18