Charley J. Oertle

August 22, 1933 - October 24, 2020

Charley J. Oertle, 87, of Kearney, passed away Saturday, October 24, 2020 at C.H.I. Health Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Memorials are suggested to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Charley was born August 22, 1933 to Charley and Edith (Montgomery) Oertle on a farm near Elm Creek. His childhood was spent in various Nebraska communities and he graduated from Kearney High School. After graduation he joined the US Armed Forces, serving in Alaska during the Korean War until his discharge in 1955. In 1957 Charley and Carole Busch of Pleasanton were married in Pleasanton. They made their home in Kearney and raised two sons, James Ray and Kenneth Allen. Charley loved being out in the open-hunting and fishing. He was ScoutMaster of Troop 136, 4-H leader of several 4-H clubs. He also helped organize the first shooting sports program in Buffalo County. He was employed as a tool and gauge machinist at Rockwell International. After Rockwell left Kearney, Charley spent the next fifteen years working at the Buffalo County Highway Department before retiring in 1998. After retirement he and Carole traveled as much as possible. Charley is survived by his wife Carole; sons, James, Kenneth and wife, Kathy all of Kearney; 4 grandchildren, Samantha Klassen, Kyle Oertle, Jacob Oertle and Jamieson Oertle all of Kearney;2 great granddaughters, Bradly and Devyn Klassen. Brother Maynard Oertle of Holdrege; Brother-In-Law, Terry Holoubeck of Kearney; Sisters-in-law Rhoda (Larrie) Jensen of Florida, and Helen Oertle of California. Charley was preceded in death by his brothers, Eugene Karsten and Dean Oertle, in-laws, Archie Busch, Mary and Don Mayer and Sara Holoubeck.