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Memorial services will be 11:00 am Tuesday, October 3, 2023 also at the funeral home. Private family inurnment will take place in Virginia Cemetery and in Kingfisher, Oklahoma.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Virginia United Methodist Church or to the Medicalodges of Buler Activity Fund. Messages of condolence may be left for the family at www.mullinaxfuneralhome.com
Marvin Neale Oerke was born on January 3, 1940 in Caldwell, Kansas, the son of Lloyd and Nanetah (Massey) Oerke.
He attended school in Cedarville, Kansas, Kansas City, Missouri, Amoret, Missouri, and graduated high school from the Miami R-1 school district. From there he attended the K.C. School of Trade.
On May 4, 1958 Marvin married his high school sweetheart Shirley Ewbank. They had five children, Joanne Godfrey, Alice Sommers, Janice Day, Julie Bitner, and Neale Oerke. They hosted an Australian AFS student Glenda (Carlshausen) Donnes of Dalwallinu, Western Australia. Marvin was also blessed with eighteen grandchildren, and thirteen great-grandchildren.
He was a member of the Virginia United Methodist Church, where he loved to sing and participate in all church events. Marvin was a farmer and entrepreneur for sixty-five years. He operated farms in multiple states leading him to obtain his private pilot’s license with a single and multiengine instrument ratings. He enjoyed taking his family, friends, and business associates on trips. As a pilot, Marvin logged 5,600 hours.
Marvin was involved in the Tractorcade in Washington, DC. He became interested in renewable fuels and was a board member of both Ethanol and Biodiesel plants in Missouri. Marvin also assisted with getting rural water District #4 in Bates County.
Marvin and Shirley attended their AFS daughter (Glenda’s) wedding in Western Australia where they made lifelong friendships with Glenda’s family and friends. They also got to travel to several countries, and celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a trip around the world.
He was preceded in death by his parents Lloyd Oerke and Nanetah (Massey) Oerke, brothers George and Edward Oerke, and sisters Gladys Compton and Rowena Jones.
Survivors include his wife Shirley Oerke, son Neale (Tina)Oerke, daughters Nanetah Joanne Godfrey, Alice Jean Sommers, Laura Janice (Dennis) Day, Julia Bitner, eighteen grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren, brother, Ken Oerke and many treasured friends, classmates, and business associates.
