William Frederic Oehlke

William F. “Bill” Oehlke, 69, retired Fire Chief of the Devils Lake Volunteer Fire Department died on Friday, February 22, 2008 at the MeritCare Hospital in Fargo. Funeral Services for Bill will be held on Wednesday, February 27, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. at the World War Memorial Building in Devils Lake. Rev. Marvin Winstryg will officiate and burial will be in the Devils Lake Cemetery. Military Honors will be accorded by the Neathery-Simensen Post #756, Devils Lake Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Lake Region Honor Guard, Camp Grafton. Visitation will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Tuesday from 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. Visitation will also be held at the First United Methodist Church, Devils Lake on Tuesday from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. with a Prayer Service and time of remembrance at 7:00 p.m. Visitation on Wednesday will be at the Memorial Building from 12:30 p.m. until time of service. Serving as Casket Bearers for Bill will be Jim Moe, Jerome Hoffart, Gayle Hovdeness, Dick Johnson, Alvin Schroeder and Terry Young. Honorary Bearers will be All Past and Present Volunteer City and Rural Firefighters and members of the Lake Region Search and Rescue Team. William Frederic “Bill” Oehlke was born in Carrington, North Dakota, on November 7, 1938, the first child of Herman and Emma (Rusten) Oehlke. The family lived for a time in Jamestown, ND, before moving to Devils Lake in 1947 when Herman purchased the Mayer Hotel in downtown Devils Lake. Bill graduated from Devils Lake High School in 1956 and immediately enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, where he served two years at Camp Pendleton, California. Upon his discharge, he attended the University of North Dakota, studying Industrial Arts Education. In his senior year at UND, Bill met and quickly eloped with Mary Casmey, Crookston, Minn., his wife of 46 years. The couple moved to Devils Lake when Herman died unexpectedly in 1963. For the next 15 years, Bill and his mother continued to manage the hotel. Interestingly, an arson fire destroyed the hotel during Bill’s early tenure as chief of the department. His interest in fire fighting began at an early age, and when invited, he joined the Devils Lake Volunteer Fire Department. At the urging of Chief Floyd Reardon, in 1973 Bill furthered his education in the field by attending Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, earning a degree in Fire Fighting Practices. He was appointed Chief of the Devils Lake Fire Department in 1974, and would spend the next 28 years serving the department and community he loved so well. In 1978 Bill was recognized as Firefighter of the Year, just one of the many accolades he would receive throughout his career. He was proud of his association with and opportunity to teach others in the same field, particularly the men of the Devils Lake City, Rural and Fort Totten Fire Departments. He was instrumental in the organization of the Lake Region Search and Rescue Team, a feat of which he was particularly proud. He thoroughly enjoyed the many hours of instruction he shared with troops attending school at the North Dakota National Guard – Camp Grafton. Through the Boy Scouts of America, he served as both Webelos and Explorers leader. An overwhelming majority vote in 1986 led to the construction of a new fire hall on College Drive, a building which still serves the community to this day. Bill directed the local Shade Tree Committee for several years, supervising and educating the young men hired for summer tree trimming. He was adamant that those trees infected with Dutch Elm Disease be identified and destroyed, and new, more adaptable plantings take their place. He assisted in organizing Arbor Day Ceremonies for many years, encouraging the public to become more aware of the importance of trees in our city. His community interests were numerous, and most recently served as a member of the Highway 2 Beautification Project Committee. Always inquisitive, it seemed as though Bill could fix or do just about anything. He always knew where tools and parts were kept, and never gave up on a project until it was completed. In 1993 Bill was diagnosed with Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome (LEMS), a rare neuromuscular disease. For the next 15 years he fought valiantly to maintain his health and mobility, fulfilling his duties as chief until his retirement at age 65. His love of the fire department continued as he spent many hours researching, writing, and publishing two books about the history of the Devils Lake department, projects he completed with great determination. At the time of his death, he was working on a third book, a novel about . . . what else? . . . a fire investigator. Bill was a member of First United Methodist Church, Devils Lake where he served on several committees; Life member of the North Dakota Firemen’s Association serving as president in 1980-81; Life Member of the Elks; and Fraternal Order of Eagles. Bill is survived by his wife, Mary; two sons: Clinton David and wife Beverly, Devils Lake, and Mark Rusten and wife Lynn, Edina, Minnesota; four grandsons: William Arthur, Patrick James, Noah Rusten and Griffin James; Brother, David (Vicki) Oehlke, Devils Lake; Brother-in-Law Richard (JoAnn) Casmey, Cleveland, Tennessee; nephew, Jeb, Bismarck, ND, and nieces Carren Leevers, Castle Rock, CO, and Kirsten Robinson, Seaford, Delaware; and several aunts, uncles and cousins. Bill was preceded in death by his parents.