Arlene Rose Oeltjen, age 90, passed away Friday, June 28, 2024, at Spring Valley Living, where she had resided for four years.
Arlene Rose Poldervaard was born on March 6, 1934, at home in Sheldon, Iowa, to Isaac and Eva (Koster) Poldervaard, and was the third of six children. Arlene lived in May City, Iowa, where she helped on the farm and worked at Red’s Café in Hartley, Iowa, until moving to Spring Valley with her parents in 1952 at the age of 17. She completed the eighth grade. Music was a big part of growing up, in which everyone sang. She played guitar and piano, and sang with the family at various events and churches.
Arlene worked at Nash’s Café in Spring Valley, where she met her future husband, Rhieny. Arlene was united in marriage to Rhienhart Oeltjen on August 26, 1954, at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. To that union were born five children.
She also worked at The Federated Store and Ben Franklin, as well as her favorite job with Spring Valley/Kingsland Public Schools in the kitchen until her retirement. She enjoyed seeing the kids and staff each day, and rumor has it she was the best “lunch lady” ever.
Arlene loved people, music, playing pranks on April Fool’s Day, dressing up for Halloween, and hiding jelly beans at Easter. She also made the best banana bread around and was proud of that. She enjoyed traveling through the years. She enjoyed life, socializing, being a good listener, and being kind, and had a strong faith in her Lord, which she shared by teaching Sunday School for many years. What brought Arlene the most joy, though, was her family and being together. Her smile and gentleness be missed.
Arlene is survived by her children Vicki (Dean) Nordsving, Rochester, Rhonda (Greg) Hanlon, Kronewetter, Wis., RaNae (Richard) Clouse, Spring Valley, Cindy (Craig) Seabright, Spring Valley, and Alan (Kim) Oeltjen, Red Wing; stepsons Lyle (Clarice) Oeltjen, Overland Park, Kans., and Lonnie (Marilyn) Oeltjen, Rochester; 10 grandchildren and seven great grandchildren, two sisters, Joan Wallace, Spring Valley and Marcella Johnson, Rochester; and brother Loren (Jan) Poldervaard, Spring Valley; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband Rhieny Oeltjen, parents Eva and Isaac Poldervaard, and sisters Joyce Shattuck and Leona Newkirk.
We wish to thank the staff at Spring Valley Living Care Center and Estates and Olmsted Medical Center for the care provided over the years.
Services will be held Wednesday July 3, 2024 at Faith United Methodist Church in Spring Valley. Burial will take place in the Spring Valley Cemetery.