John P. "Odie" Oltmer, Sr.

Mass of Christian Burial for John P. “Odie” Oltmer, Sr., 60, Madison, will be 10:30 a.m., Thursday, April 21, 2022 at St. Leonard’s Catholic Church.  Reverend Patrick McLaughlin will be the celebrant.  Burial will be in the church cemetery.  Visitation will be Wednesday, 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., with a 7:00 p.m. Vigil, at the church.  The Mass will be livestreamed on the funeral home’s website.  Resseguie Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

He passed away Friday, April 15, 2022 at Faith Regional Health Services in Norfolk.

John was born November 24, 1961 in Norfolk, Nebraska to Kenneth and Shirley (Fullner) Oltmer.

John married Cindy Hjorth on June 15, 2002 and the couple renewed their vows on December 1, 2007 at St. Leonard’s Catholic Church.  The couple was blessed with three sons, John, Jr., Benjamin, and Nicholas.

Odie was a hard worker who farmed, drove trucks, operated heavy equipment, and operated Odie and Sons Salvage Yard east of Madison.

Odie was a fun-loving husband, father, son, and friend   He ran in demolition derbies for many years and passed his love of demo cars down to his sons.  He was a member of the Nebraska Demolition Derby Hall of Fame.    Odie enjoyed hunting, playing cards, especially Euchre and enjoyed shooting the breeze with friends and family.  He might have been known as a sandbagger a time or two.  You could have caught him cheating a little at cards but it was always a good time to be around him.  He was never at at a loss for having fun and making people laugh.  If you were in his heart you were there forever.  He played hard and loved even harder.

John is survived by his wife, Cindy (Hjorth) Oltmer, sons John Paul Oltmer, Jr. (JJ), Benjamin James Oltmer and Nicholas Scott Oltmer, mother Shirley Marshall, father-in-law, Vern Hjorth, mother-in-law, Shirley Mittan, siblings Penny Rhome and Bill Oltmer, brother-in-law, Chris Hjorth, sister-in-laws Sarah (Chad) Ijames, Mandy Hjorth, and Lindi Oltmer, nieces, and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father, Kenneth Oltmer, sister Judith Lynn Oltmer, brother Cory Oltmer, and brother-in-law Walter Rhome.

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