Frederick Charles Oeffner's Obituary
Frederick Charles Oeffner, age 78, of Lewes, DE passed away on Wednesday, October 28, 2015 at his home surrounded by his loving family after over a two and a half year battle with metastatic prostate cancer.
Fred was born on February 9, 1937 in Paullina, IA, son of the late Frederick John Oeffner and Selma Oeffner Fiddelke. Due to the threat of an impending mid-western snowstorm, Fred was born in-town in his Aunt's home, rather than on the family farm. Fred graduated from Paullina High School in 1955, where he lettered in football, baseball, and theater. Upon graduating from Iowa State University, Ames, IA, in 1959 from the ROTC program, he was commissioned in the U.S. Navy. The last tour of duty of his two year Navy stint was at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., where he served in the Chief of Naval Operations Command Center during the Cuban crisis. During that time, he met his future wife, Joan (Allender), whom he met on a blind date and married in June 1962.
In October 1961, Fred began his thirty-five year career at the National Security Agency, Ft. Meade, MD. He had a broad range of assignments and responsibilities within the Office of Security, including polygraph, investigations, evaluations and security education. In the mid-seventies, Fred served as the Detachment Administrative Officer for a two year tour in Ankara, Turkey. The last eight years of his service, Fred was assigned to the NSA Inspector General's staff.
All those who knew Fred appreciated his quick wit and his ability to converse with almost anybody on almost any subject. He was an avid reader and a crossword puzzle enthusiast. Golf was a big part of Fred's life, as he enjoyed the challenge of the game and the associated camaraderie with his fellow golfers. During his working years, he played weekly with the Ft. Meade "Pineapple Group" and upon moving to Lewes from Columbia, MD in 2002, his Baywood foursome played the many good courses in Sussex and Worcester counties. The highlight of his golf game was his two holes-in-one, with only one witnessed by his fellow golfers! Fred enjoyed the cruising lifestyle with his wife, and often Maryland friends, as they frequently boarded the Celebrity Line ships for destinations around the world. Until his illness, Fred was a daily visitor to the southbound WAWA on Route 1, Lewes, where he bantered with the employees regarding his wishes for free gas and free coffee!
In addition to his parents, Fred was preceded in death by his half brother, Lawrence G. Oeffner. He is survived by his wife of fifty-three years, Joan Oeffner; two daughters, Jane Oeffner Borichevsky and her husband Paul of Media, PA, and Dr. Catherine 0. DeLuca of Lewes, DE; a sister Barbara Ebel and her husband Marlo of Paullina, IA; and numerous nephews and nieces. He will be greatly missed by his three grandchildren, Katarina Borichevsky and Matthew and Sophia DeLuca.
The family expresses its thanks and appreciation for the compassionate care given to Fred by Dr. Srihari Peri and his staff at Beebe Tunnell Cancer Center, Rehoboth Beach, DE.
Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, October 31, 2015, at 11:00 AM, at Lutheran Church of Our Savior, 20276 Bay Vista Road, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971, where friends may call beginning at 10:00 AM.
Friends may also call on Friday, October 30, 2015 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, 16961 Kings Highway, Lewes, DE 19958.
Interment with military honors will be held on Saturday, at 2:00 PM, at St. Peter's Cemetery, Pilottown Road, Lewes, DE.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The Lutheran Church of Our Savior, 20276 Bay Vista Road, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971 or Delaware Hospice, 100 Patriots Way, Milford, DE 19963.
Please sign Fred's guestbook located on this site.
FLORIST NOTE: PLEASE HAVE ALL FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS DELIVERED BY 1:00 PM ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2015 TO PARSELL FUNERAL HOMES, LEWES, DE.
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