Robert Oliphant

    Robert Eugene Oliphant, 77, of 115 S. 23rd St. Clear Lake, died Friday, Aug. 26, 2011 at his home.
    A celebration of Robert’s life was held Tuesday, Aug. 30, at the Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake with Pastor Scott Wilson of the Christian Church officiating. Military honors were provided by the Clear Lake V.F.W.  The family suggests memorials to Hospice of North Iowa.

    Bob was born July 3, 1934 in Creston, Iowa the son of John Howard and Lela Ruth (Hickox) Oliphant. He graduated from Pacific Junction High School in 1952. He enlisted in the United States Air Force and served in the Korean War. While serving in Germany he met his bride to be, Gisela Ina Jansen, and they were married in Germany.
    Following the service he attended the University of Maryland and graduated from tech school in Riverton, N.J. He was a fiber optics consultant for national phone companies and worked throughout the United States and Mexico.
    He enjoyed watching college football, the Dallas Cowboys, reading, playing slot machines, cards and his dogs, Tia and Billie.
    Bob is survived by his best friend/significant other, Sandie Treadway, Clear Lake; three daughters, Jaqueline Marie Petersen, Clear Lake, Michelle NMI (Kelly) McLaughlin, Clear Lake and Karin Sue (Tim) Hartnett, Clear Lake; stepdaughter, Shauna Oliphant, Dallas, Texas; Sandie’s children, Pam (Adam) Reynolds, Houston, Texas, Lauri (Joseph) Chizek, Austin, Texas and Mark Treadway, Clear Lake; son-in-law, Bill (Lu) Thoendel, Hoskins, Neb.; eight grandchildren, Nikki (Lee) Baumert, Kristina Jochum, Molly (Travis) Rowenhorst, Sean Hartnett and his fiancé, Ashley Fischer, Melissa McLaughlin, Matthew Hartnett, Colin Hartnett and Stephen Hartnett; six great-grandchildren Calvin Jochum, Samantha Baumert, Jenna Jochum, Justin Baumert, Ada Rowenhorst and Lora Rowenhorst; brother-in-law, Loran Boyer, Council Bluffs, Iowa; sister-in-law, Ethel Oliphant, Wooster, Ohio; four brothers, Everett (Ann) Oliphant, Dixon, Ky., Paul R. (Joyce) Oliphant, Lenox, Iowa, John J. (Thea) Oliphant, Santa Clara, Calif. and Dale L. (Marguerite) Oliphant, Pacific Junction, Iowa.
    He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Gisela, in 1982; daughter, Marianne Thoendel; two brothers, Wayne and Bill Oliphant; and sister, Eleanor Boyer.