Kenneth Oman

Funeral services for Kenneth E. Oman will be held at 1:00 PM on Tuesday, November 28, 2017 at Bonnerup Funeral Service, Albert Lea.  The Reverend Sean Forde will officiate.  Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service.  Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery, Glenville, MN.  Military honors will be accorded by the Albert Lea Area Veteran’s Organizations.

Kenneth passed away on Tuesday, November 21, 2017 at the Hillcrest Rehabilitation Center in Mankato.  He was 99 years old.

Kenneth Emmanuel Oman was born on July 24, 1918 to Casper and Ella (Storlien) Oman in Ten Mile Lake Township, MN.  He grew up and attended school in Dawson, MN until the 8th grade, where he would then help his family on the farm.  Ken was drafted into the United States Army and served from March of 1942 until his honorable discharge in October of 1945 at Fort Custer, MI.  Ken received a bronze star medal for his service.  Ken saw many things during his service, from D-Day, to many recon missions behind enemy lines.  He was proud of his military service.

On November 4, 1943, he was united in marriage to Shirley (Johnson) in Freeborn County.  To this union, three children were born.  The couple would raise their family in Albert Lea.

After his discharge from the service, Ken would begin work at a filling station, doing various jobs.  He went to work at Page and Hill Homes building pre-fab houses for a number of years.  Following, he would work at the Coca Cola bottling plant in Albert Lea.  Later, he would open his own Pepsi franchise in Albert Lea where he would distribute to many locations in southern Minnesota.  After he sold his Pepsi franchise, Ken worked for Krieger Beverage, doing anything they needed.  He would work a few other jobs until his eventual retirement when he was in his late 80’s.

As you can tell, Ken loved to work.  From his early years helping on the farm in 7th grade, to his military service, to working many jobs in the Albert Lea area, Ken always had a great work ethic.  He knew that he needed to work, and he valued doing things the right way the first time.  Aside from work, Ken enjoyed bowling, hunting, and going dancing with his wife.  Ken also took a liking to his family succeeding in music, as many of Ken’s family were together in the “K Lee Stevens Band.”  Ken could be described as “Mr. Fix-It.”  He could fix anything and everything, from carpentry or mechanical, to plumbing or electrical, he would find the problem and always had a solution to fix it.  Aside from these activities, he was a member of the American Legion and VFW.

Ken is preceded in death by both parents; his wife, Shirley in 2008; a daughter, Susan Weberg; along with 12 brothers and sisters.

He is survived by his children, Steven (Kari) Oman, and Scott Oman; son in-law, Larry Weberg; grandchildren, Michelle (Jeff) Woods, Steven Oman, Jeff (Dolores) Weberg, Stacia Martinez, Ajay Oman, and Cassie Oman; numerous great and great-great grandchildren; a brother, Melvin Oman, as well as many other relatives and friends.