Former Iola resident Louis Charles Bodemann Jr., known as “Bob” Bodemann, died at home in Hot Springs, Ark., on Sunday, Jan. 1, 2012. He was 84.
He was born Feb. 27, 1927, in Oklahoma City, Okla., to Louis Charles and Nella Stolfa Bodemann Sr.
He served in the U.S. Navy and was honorably discharged in 1946. He graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in Petroleum Engineering.
He married Wanda Sanders of Tulsa, Okla., in 1951.
He spent his early years in Oklahoma City. After the service and college he worked for Tenneco Oil as a petroleum engineer in Houston, Texas , Oklahoma City, Denver, Colo., Casper, Wyo., finally settling in Iola as an independent oil producer.
To be closer to their children and grandchildren, the couple moved to Hot Springs Village in 1998 and to Hot Springs in 2001. His interest included coaching his sons’ baseball teams, playing softball and tennis, serving as a Boy Scout leader and later singing in a Barbershop Quartet. He and his wife were involved in community theater in Iola, performing in numerous musical productions.
He is survived by his wife; three sons, Steve and his wife, Mitch, Mike and his wife, Peggy, and Don and his wife, Kim; one daughter, Diane Bodemann and her husband, Tom Cellers; grandchildren, Erin Bodemann McCarley, Keri Bodemann Forrester, Maggie Bodemann, Carolyn Bodemann Hall, Brian Bodemann, Julie Bodemann Goodwin, Scott Cellers, Jackson Cellers, Gretchen Cellers, Stephanie Cellers, Claire Bodemann, Marcus Bodemann and Isaac Bodemann; great-grandchildren, Clara McCarley and Cate Hall; and a first cousin, Kathleen Estes, Denver.
Memorials are suggested to Allen County Community College in Iola. Guests may register online at www.caruth-hale.com.
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