Albert Reed Oesterle, born March 5th, 1919 in Joliet, Illinois to Albert Carl and Anna Gertrude (Reed) Oesterle, passed away peacefully at his home in Fort Collins on the evening of January 10th, aged 101.
His lone sibling, a brother, died in infancy, and on the eve of the Great Depression his father passed, leaving ten year old Albert to be raised by his single mother, with the selfless and loving support of relatives and devoted family friends. His childhood shortened by circumstance, Al developed a personal discipline that would become a hallmark of his character. Driven to ease his mother’s burden, he made himself into an honor student and skipped a grade of Junior High School before entering the University of Illinois Dental School in 1938. He was commissioned an Ensign in the United States Navy (Dental Corps) in June 1941. After service in the Pacific in the Second World War and surviving the sinking of his ship, USS Princeton (CVL-23), he made the Navy his first career.
On September 1st, 1945, two weeks after V-J Day, Al married Joan Gardner Smith at the Philadelphia Navy Yard Chapel. Embarking on a nomadic military life, Al and Joan lived from Key West to California, Chicago to both Carolinas, and Virginia to Cuba, along the way becoming parents to three daughters and, at long last, a son. Captain A.R. Oesterle retired from the Navy in 1965. A humble man by nature, he left it for his family to be exceedingly proud of his service to our nation. His awards include the Bronze Star (with Valor) and the Purple Heart.
In 1962, with his wife Joan, daughters Lane, Jill, and Lynn, son Carl, Dachshund Schnapps, and parakeet WestKey packed into their Chevy Impala station wagon, the family spent its final military move criss-crossing America scouting locations to establish a permanent home. At a filling station in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, an attendant said to Al, “You might oughta take a look at Fort Collins. Nice little town.” And so it came to pass that Dr. A. R. Oesterle, ably assisted by Joan, opened Fort Collins’ first Oral Surgery practice, which he maintained with the dedicated focus borne of his childhood experience, until his retirement in 1990.
When he wasn’t serving generations of northern Coloradoans, Al was cultivating genuine and lasting friendships, building a reputation of integrity and honor, and creating an utterly amazing life for the people he loved.
Al will be remembered for a steadfast love for his family and for America, a general disdain for bird feeder-robbing squirrels and improper grammar, his sublime touch on the putting green, and an unexpectedly sly sense of humor. He was decidedly not a fan of men wearing hats indoors. As a beekeeper he kept the family supplied with honey and, in homage to his father’s occupation, he crafted fine jewelry for his wife and daughters. A dedicated gardener, he grew gooseberries, raspberries and currants which he then turned into exceptional pies, preserves and jelly. To him, the cantaloupes he nurtured all summer were the size of basketballs and took days to eat. In reality, they were closer to softballs and vanished in a few bites. He valued loyalty and, despite growing up an hour from Chicago, was a lifelong St. Louis Cardinals fan because of two men: Stan Musial and Red Schoendienst. His long life was fortified by a steady diet of puffed rice for breakfast, peanut butter and jelly for lunch chased by two Oreos and, most importantly, two more after dinner. He was made of the stuff that seems not so common anymore, but which he passed to his family, and which is fundamental.
Albert Reed Oesterle is preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Joan (Smith) Oesterle of Fall River, MA. He is survived by his daughters Lane (Eric) Miller of Berthoud, Jill (Steve) Hultin and Lynn (Craig) Oesterle-Zollner of Fort Collins, his son Carl (Kerry) of Edmond, OK, six beloved grandchildren, three great grandchildren, and his loving companion of 18 years, Phyl Nichols of Fort Collins.
The family would like to extend its profound gratitude to Live Love Laugh Homecare of Fort Collins for helping us make Al’s last years comfortable, happy, and filled with laughter and light.
A local memorial service is pending. His remains will be interred in Arlington National Cemetery, alongside those of his wife.
In lieu of flowers please consider a donation in his honor to Smile Train (www.smiletrain.org) or Larimer County Pathways Care (https://pathways-care.org/pathways-larimer-county/)
We will miss you, our darling Dad and Boppie.
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