Obituary of Cletus C. Ortmeier

Cletus Casper Ortmeier, son of Catherine Elizabeth (Grewe) and John Ferdinand Ortmeier, was born January 22, 1931 in Dodge, Nebraska. Cletus attended St Charles School in West Point, Nebraska and then Glencoe School in Dodge, Nebraska. He graduated with an 8th grade education and then went on to get his GED through the University of Maryland while in the service. He served his country for two years in the United States Army over in Germany. Clete lived in Anoka, Nebraska and Storm Lake, Iowa before moving to Milford, Iowa in 1975. He was united in marriage to Jeanette Schwedler on June 16, 1956. Clete was a member of the St. Joseph Catholic Church, Pheasants Forever, American Legion and the NRA. He enjoyed collecting tractors, guns, farm toys and had a love for the history of WWII, reading hundreds of books on the war. Over the years, Clete had planted thousands of trees and also built a lighthouse. He enjoyed farming, his orchard, golfing, fishing and gardening. He was known for grilling the best chicken ever and having the best sweet corn around. He also enjoyed traveling and especially loved the time with his family at his favorite place, the cabin on Eagle Lake. Clete passed away October 22, 2013 at the Community Memorial Health Center in Hartley, Iowa at eighty-two years of age. He is survived by his wife, Jeanette; children, Kimberly (Mike) Miller of Milford, Iowa, Kari (Paul) Herndon of Charlotte, NC and Curtis (Holly) Ortmeier of Hendersonville, TN; grandchildren, Nicholas Miller, Arin Miller, Jenna Miller, William Herndon, Nathanial Herndon, Ashlyn Motiff, Whitney Motiff and Devon Montella; siblings, Elizabeth Throener, Harold Ortmeier, Deana Mark and Eric Ortmeier; many other relatives and friends. Clete was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Henrietta Tomka.