William Oltjen

William H. Oltjen, 86, of Overland Park died January 1, 2017. He was born July 1, 1930, in St. Joseph, Missouri, to Henry and Florence (Dock) Oltjen who preceded him in death.  He grew up in Brown County, Kansas, and graduated from Robinson High School in 1948.
He married Wilma Ruhnke of Bendena, Kansas, October 14, 1951, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Bendena, Kansas.  He is a proud father of three children, and had five grandchildren and one great grandchild.
He farmed with his father south of Robinson until 1981.  They had many cattle and hogs, and raised mainly corn, soybeans and wheat.   In 1982 he and Wilma moved to Overland Park where he worked for Jay Wolfe for 22 years. He was on the local Coop’s Board of Directors for six years and President for two years.  He was also the treasurer of the local school board for six years. He had many friends in the community and at Upper Wolf Lutheran Church which he attended regularly.  He liked being with and helping people.  His hobbies were fishing with his family and enjoying a family vacation to Minnesota or Ontario, Canada.
He is survived by his wife Wilma of Overland Park, his son James and his wife Sharon and grandson Cory from Winters, California; a daughter Rita Eckman and her husband Tony from Anthem, Arizona, and granddaughter Kristen Pyle and husband Brandt and great-granddaughter Savannah from Leawood, and granddaughter Susan Eckman from New York; and a son Thomas from Overland Park and grandson Graham from Houston, Texas, and granddaughter Sydney Logan and husband Wayne from Leavenworth.

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