Oemcke, Robert 99, of Panama City, FL died on July 19, 2021 at Sims FL Veterans Home. The following was self-written in 2013 and has been updated. Robert was born on May 1, 1922 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the only child of Viola G. Oemcke (Rosenberger) & Henry P. Oemcke. He graduated in 1940 from North High School in Minneapolis. He completed his pre-dental work at the College of St. Thomas and received his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Minnesota in 1945. He completed this in five years as his Army assignment, and then was transferred to the Navy. He served in Japan after the war. Robert remained active in the Naval Reserve, retiring after thirty years with the rank of commander. Robert married his high school sweetheart, Jeanne Norman, on her 24th birthday, June 9, 1946 in San Diego, CA. They had four children, Christine, Michael, Mary, and John, and three grandchildren. All four of his children participated in his care during the last year of his life. Robert was a Roman Catholic. In St. Cloud he was a member of Holy Angels Parish. At the time of his death he was a member of St. Bernadette Catholic Church in Panama City, FL. He attended St. Alice Church in Pequot Lakes during the summer throughout his entire life. Robert was licensed to practice dentistry in California and Minnesota. He spent the bulk of his career employed by the Department of Medicine and Surgery of the U.S. Veteran’s Administration, working as a staff dentist at the V.A. Hospital in St. Cloud, Minnesota. Robert was an ardent golfer. He was a charter member of the Whitefish Golf Club of Pequot Lakes, long time member of the St. Cloud Country Club, and seasonal member at the Bay Point Country Club in Panama City, FL. He won the MOGT on eight occasions. After retirement he and Jeanne moved to Panama City Beach, FL, and they returned to his life-long lake home on the Whitefish Chain for the summer months. Robert was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Jeanne in 2014, daughter-in-law Sandra Oemcke, son-in-law Charles Schramm, sisters and brothers-in-laws, Wendell and Constance Swenson, Jim and Tootie Norman, Marjorie and Roger Mangni, Jack and Joyce Norman, Roger Norman, and Lois and John Myers, and nephew, David Swenson. Robert is survived by four children, daughter Christine (husband Tom) Bettendorf of Panama City, son Michael (wife Barbara) of Cushing, MN, daughter Mary Oemcke of Seattle, WA, and son and loving caregiver, John of Panama City, He is also survived by his grandchildren Kent Bettendorf of Mound, Kathryn Cocker (husband Chad) of Pine Island, and Spencer Schramm of Seattle. and many favorite nieces and nephews. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Alice Catholic Church in Pequot Lakes, MN on Thursday, August 19th at 11:AM. Visitation will begin at 10 AM before the mass. Burial will be at Fort Snelling National Cemetery. The family would like to thank both Knute-Nelson Hospice and Senior Class Care in Minnesota and Florida’s Emerald Coast Hospice, and home health care agencies Bright Star and Grace-Loves as well as the staff at Sims for their dedicated care. Memorials may be made in Robert’s memory to a charity of the donor’s choice.

Published on August 15, 2021