Armand F. Oetken

Armand F. Oetken, 83, of Mason City, Iowa, passed away Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015, at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit.  Funeral services were held on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2015, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 213 N. Pennsylvania Avenue, with Pastor Kathy Graves officiating. A private family burial was held at the London – Deer Creek Cemetery in Northwood, Iowa.  Memorials may be directed to the Armand Oetken memorial fund in care of the family.  Online condolences may be left for the family at www.majorericksonfuneralhome.com.

Armand was born Nov. 28, 1931, to Fred and Helena (Van Meter) Oetken in West Union, Iowa.  He graduated from Northwood High School in 1949. Armand met his future wife, Phyllis at an eighth grade softball game at Northwood.  They were married at Deer Creek Valley Lutheran Church, rural Northwood, on June 1, 1952. The young couple moved to California, as Armand had enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. They resided for two years at the Air Force Base in Sacramento.

After returning home from the service, Armand and Phyllis made their home on a farm in rural Northwood. While farming with his father-in-law, Philip Hendrikson, Armand worked on the Rock Island Railroad, and then attended Mason City Junior College.  After receiving his B.A. degree from Drake University, he taught sixth grade at Harding Elementary in Mason City for several years. During that time, Armand and Phyllis built a new home in Mason City.

Armand continued his education by earning his master’s degree in school administration from Drake University. He then served as elementary principal in Clear Lake, for 26 years, retiring in 1994.

Throughout his life, Armand tried to make a positive difference in children’s lives. He was also dedicated to his family.  His joys in life were farming with his son, Terry, and seeing his two granddaughters grow up. He encouraged them to follow their dreams and was so proud when Sherri became a physician, and Kati an art teacher.

Armand is survived by his wife of 62 years, Phyllis Oetken, of Mason City; his son, Terry and daughter-in-law, Sue; two granddaughters, Sherri Oetken and Kati Oetken; his sister, Mariedna (Allen) Wilde; and two nephews, Mark Lindflott and Barry Wilde.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Helena Oetken; sister, Bette Jorgenson; nephew, Brian Wilde; and Phyllis’ parents, Mae and Philip Hendrikson.

Major Erickson Funeral Home & Crematory, Mason City, was in charge of arrangements.