Roll Call Tribute

Harlan Eugene Oehlke 

December 4, 1956 - December 6, 2024 

Harlan Eugene Oehlke passed from this life on December 6, 2024, at 68 years old at his home in Houston, Texas after a long 2-year battle with cancer and heart issues. He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Lorraine V. (Sokolowski) Oehlke, his sister Sandra (Oehlke) Boothe (Mike), and numerous Uncles, Aunts, and cousins along with many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents Darwin H. and Laverda (Kuecker) Oehlke, Grandparents, several aunts, Uncles and cousins.

Harlan attended Shields Elementary, Crain Junior High, Victoria High School graduating in 1975. He also participated in Junior Achievement during High School. He attended 2 years at Victoria Junior College before earning a BS Mechanical Engineering degree from Texas A&M University in 1983.

He held several jobs during his lifetime, but his favorite and longest lasting job was as an outside salesman of engineered pressure control valves to the Oil business, refining industry, and various other industries requiring specialized equipment for process control. He especially enjoyed providing seminars to numerous industry engineers explaining the inner workings of pressure control valves and the value of specialized metals for acidic or caustic processes. He was a very hands-on type of person and enjoyed working on anything mechanical. He also developed and received a patent on one of his many ideas. He also loved flying and owned his own Cessna plane for several years. 

There will be a Celebration of Life gathering May 25, 2025 at St. Marks Lutheran Fellowship Hall in Cuero from 1 to 4 pm.