Wilbur "Pete" Oestreich Obituary (1922 - 2018)

Wilbur H. "Pete" Oestreich, age 96 of Beatrice passed away on September 18, 2018 at the Good Samaritan Society of Beatrice. He was born in Linn, Kansas on May 14, 1922 to Fred and Emma (Laue) Oestreich. He was a graduate of Linn High School and attended Watch Repair School in Denver. Pete served his country in the United States Army from June 28, 1944 to August 9, 1945. On August 26, 1944, he was united in marriage to Bonnie Kearns. Together they owned a dine and dance hall called The Club Royal in Linn, Kansas before moving to Beatrice. While in Beatrice, Pete worked various jobs before retiring from Keyes Manufacturing. Pete was a very active member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Beatrice and was also a member of the American Legion Post 27 in Beatrice. He was a collector of everything, especially pens and pencils, and enjoyed woodworking, playing cards, bowling, square dancing, and doing word searches. Left to mourn his passing are his wife of 74 years, Bonnie; children, Wesley Oestreich and wife, Linda E. of Lincoln, Wayne Oestreich and wife Linda L. of Beatrice, Denise Spilker and husband Kirk of Virginia, and Donnetta Hajek and husband Ted of Odell; grandchildren, John (Dannielle) Oestreich and Jeremy (Leslie) Oestreich, Wade (Renee) Oestreich and Jared (Nina) Oestreich, Joe (Wendy) Matulka, Angie (Kenny) Pence, Greg Matulka, Jr., Darcie Spilker and Jess Dunn, Dustin (Kim) Spilker, and Alyssa, Brianna, and Kelsey Hajek; great grandchildren, Mackenzie, Tucker, Tripp, Tori (Chris), Austin, Madison, Connor, Riley, Breagan, Evalee, Justin, Grace, Emma, Nathan, and Kristin; great great grandchildren, Addylynn, Bentley, and Charli; brother, Clarence Oestreich; and a host of extended family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Nora; 3 sisters-in-law, and 2 brothers-in-law. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday September 22, 2018 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Beatrice with Pastors Greg Stuckwisch and Tim Brisbois officiating. Interment will be at the Evergreen Home Cemetery with military honors being rendered by the United States Army. The body will lie in state on Friday from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM at the Griffiths-Hovendick Chapel in Beatrice with the family greeting relatives and friends from 5:30-7:00 PM, and in state at the church one hour prior to the service on Saturday. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the family for a charitable donation to be made in Pete's memory at a later date with the funeral home in charge. Sign Pete's online register book at www.ghchapel.com. These services have been entrusted to Griffiths-Hovendick Chapel in Beatrice.