Bernard J. Obermeyer's Obituary
Bernard J. Obermeyer, age 83 of Batesville, died Monday, February 11, 2013 at the Columbus Regional Hospital. He was born March 3, 1929 in Franklin County Indiana and married Lois Jackson May 31, 1986 in Greensburg, Indiana. In addition to farming, he spent nearly 45 years working for the Franklin County Roads Department and was a member of Holy Family Church and the Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie #927 in Greensburg.After listening to many stories, it was apparent Bernie was quite a character. Although he worked hard presenting a crusty exterior, he had a heart of pure gold. The kids also explained that he was as a strong as a horse, but as stubborn as a mule. They remember several holidays he spent plowing snow for the county and especially the blizzard of 1978. In his younger days, he liked to hunt and fish and for years raised an enormous garden of several acres. Another hobby was making home brew and homemade wine. While the family agreed his wine was pretty good, the home brew not so much. The kids teased that for years when you went to the basement you needed a helmet. Apparently his homebrew would randomly shatter and explode after it was bottled. In later years he enjoyed doing word searches and watching “The Price is Right” and “Let’s Make a Deal.” He also took up cooking and made himself into quite a good cook according to his family. Some of their favorites were his vegetable soup, spaghetti and pot roast. Something not many can say, he lived his whole live in the house he was born in. Although a dog lover, in recent years he grew fond of the cats Peanut and Pearl. His lifelong passion without a doubt was farming. He was always happiest tinkering on the farm. The boys recalled a story from their youth that still brings a smile to their face. One afternoon riding the wagon bailing hay, a snake managed to come through the bailer unharmed and very much alive. They grabbed it, meaning to fling it away, but when they let loose it came out in a flat spin like a boom-a-rang or Frisbee and ended up wrapping around Bernie’s neck. The boys laugh at how fast dad was able to shut the tractor down.He is survived by his wife Lois; daughter Geraldine Sloan of Greenfield, Indiana; sons Charles Davidson of Cincinnati, Ohio, Ronald Obermeyer and Donald Obermeyer, both of Batesville; step daughters Katharine Curtis of Hayden, Alabama, Lynette Myers of Tucson, Arizona; twelve grandchildren; four step grandchildren; eighteen great grandchildren; three step great grandchildren and three great great grandchildren. In addition to his mother Flora Obermeyer, he was also preceded in death by his wife Opal Obermeyer on April 6, 1985. Visitation is Thursday, February 14th, from 9 a.m. until noon at the funeral home. Funeral services follow at 12:30 p.m. at Holy Family Church in Oldenburg with Rev. David Kobak O.F.M. officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. The family requests memorials to the Holy Family Church Capital Improvement Fund or the Franklin County Humane Society.
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