John Frederick Oatley, Sr.
John Frederick Oatley, Sr., of Eaton Rapids and Holt, Michigan, passed into the arms of Jesus on October 22, 2023 at the age of 91.
John was born to Chester and Jennie (Farnam) Oatley on November 27, 1931 in beautiful Frankfort, Michigan. John grew up with a large family and learned the values of hard work. Frankfort would be where John met the love of his life, Helen Katrine Bloom. They were married on March 8, 1952. They shared 67 wonderful years together.
John served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. John would later go to school on the GI Bill. He attended Dental School in Elkhart, Indiana to become a dental technician. John settled in Lansing, Michigan. He first worked for Dr. Nolan and later Dr. Larry Stone for over 30 years until his retirement in 1992.
John and Katrine raised five children and lead a very busy life. Together they enjoyed family vacations, lots of camping, trips up north to visit family and countless activities. John loved working around the house and yard, tinkering in his garage, feeding the birds. John also had a special knack for fixing the impossible, where it may have taken some time for him to think on it, but he would always come up with a solution to get it fixed. John was an avid deer hunter, loved the outdoors, swimming in Lake Michigan and loved his country dearly.
John was a member of Pilgrim Congregational Church of Lansing for over 60 years. He also was a volunteer for meals on Wheels along with his wife, Katrine for many years.
John was preceded in death by his wife, Helen Katrine Oatley; sons, John Oatley, Jr. and Dean Oatley; granddaughters, Diana Cuatt and Shannon Sharp; grandson, Dean A. Oatley; daughter-in-law, Linda Oatley; sisters, Betty Shattuck, Dixie Buehrer and Dorothy Round; and brother, Ted Oatley. He is survived by his children: David Oatley of Mason, Brenda (Tom) Cuatt of Springport, Brian (Karen) Oatley of Eaton Rapids, Sonja Oatley of Eaton Rapids, and Carleen Oatley of Alabama; sister-in-law, Jeanette Oatley of Texas; seven grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews also survive.
A Funeral Service to remember and celebrate John’s life was held Friday, October 27, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. at the Palmer, Bush & Jensen Family Funeral Home, Holt Chapel with Pastor Peter Robinson officiating. Interment will follow in Deepdale Memorial Gardens Cemetery. The family received relatives and friends Friday, October 27, 2023, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Pilgrim Congregational Church in Lansing, Michigan.