Harold Elmer Ober
December 24, 2009
Harold Elmer Ober, Jr. was born in Nehalem, Oregon on September 8, 1920 to Harold, Sr. and Helen Ober. He grew up in Nehalem and attended Anderson Airplane School in Los Angeles. Following flight school, he served as a pilot in WWII.
Harold married Ellen M. Quick on October 28, 1942 at the Little Country Church of Hollywood, CA. After the war, they moved to Ellen's home state of Iowa where they raised their 5 children.
Harold owned Ober Insurance Agency, and then Ober Construction Co. until his retirement in 1981. He served on the Polk County Zoning Board for 15 years, and was a charter member of Saylorville Baptist Church where he served in many positions.
Harold was also a ham radio operator connecting to people around the world, including many missionaries. He and Ellen loved to host missionaries in their home and they enjoyed traveling oversees and to Oregon to visit family.
Harold will be remembered for his cartoon drawings, sense of humor, his ability to fix anything broken or find a solution to a problem, and his deep love for God and family. He was assured of eternal life in heaven because of his trust in Jesus Christ as his Savior.
Harold is survived by his loving wife, Ellen, of 67 years, and sons Dennis (Diana), Dick (Lynn), of Des Moines; Sherm (Janet), Herb (Angie), and daughter Christine (Glen) Chapman of Salem, Oregon, sister Marjorie Parmley of St. Helens, Oregon, 15 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Carol Nygaard, brother Sherman Ober, and granddaughter Lori Pick.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 9th at 11:00 a.m. at Saylorville Baptist Church, 6429 NW 6th Drive, Des Moines. Memorial contributions may be made to Saylorville Baptist Church Missions.
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com
Doug Robbins
12/31/2009
Harold will be missed. He was a great Amateur Radio "Ham" and always had a great attitude. I never met Harold in person, but talked to him many times on the radio, Email and Echolink. Thru Amateur radio we became good friends. 73's O.M. from your friend W5DUG
George Tomlinson kØBHP
12/30/2009
With regret I read of the passing of Harold. The "Yellow Chicken" will be remembered as a Man of insight, humor, courage. He and I shared the same fondness for Tillamook cheese, and the frequent story about military aviation.
Several of us wrote to Harold during the last weeks wishing him luck in his new adventure. I valued his friendship. He will be missed. George KØBHP
DAVID RIKER
12/30/2009
DEAR OBER FAMILY,
AS AN AMATEUR RADIO OPERATOR IN THE STATE OF ARKANSAS, IT HAS BEEN MY DISTINCT PLEASURE TO HAVE HAROLD AS A FRIEND AND A BROTHER IN CHRIST. HE WAS A GOOD MAN AND HE'LL BE MISSED. HAROLD WAS A "STRAIGHT SHOOTER" AND WE ALWAYS LOOKED FORWARD TO HEARING HIM ON THE AIRWAYS. G0D BLESS YOU WITH HIS COMFORT IN THE DAYS AHEAD.
DAVID L. RIKER, KG5GH
Lindy Lindermeier
12/30/2009
A voice on the radio, cold winter mornings and spring sunshine. "Old soldiers never die, they just slip away.
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds - and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up the long delirious, burning blue,
I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew -
And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod
The high untresspassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand and touched the face of God.
73 friend, K0YC de WW5AA
JoAnn
12/29/2009
Harold was one of my inspirations and kept me going thru a lot of troubling times. I watched him go thru everything he did and he kept his head up high.
I am so grateful to have the time I had with him and will treasure his memories.
Thank you for sharing him. He was a great benefit to me and the Amature Radio Community.