Norman Wayne Oehrle, 73, of Columbia, Missouri, passed over to the other side on June 11th, 2017, at Boone Hospital.  He was surrounded by his family.

Mr. Oehrle was born to Norman H. and Dorothy Oehrle in St. Joseph, Missouri, March 18th, 1944.  He spent his entire childhood in St. Joseph, attending Lindbergh Elementary, Lafayette High School, and St. Joseph Junior College.  Norman met his wife, Joan, in the seventh grade.  They spent many wonderful years together camping and traveling with Harold and Fern Burright, Joan's parents.  Norman and Joan married July 19th, 1964 and moved to Maryville, Missouri, where they graduated from Northwest Missouri State Teachers College in 1966.  They became elementary teachers in Parkville, Missouri, at Graden and Renner Elementary.  Norman graduated with a Master's degree in Administration in 1970.  A daughter, Katie Ann, was born in 1969.  They moved to Waverly, Missouri, where Norman became Principal at Santa Fe Elementary School.  A son, Nathan, was born in 1972.  The family then moved to Moberly, Missouri in 1973.  Norman became Principal of Central Elementary and later North Park Elementary.  His wife resumed her career as a second grade teacher at East Park Elementary School in 1979.  Norman continued as Principal until his retirement in 1998. He and Joan then moved to Columbia, Missouri in 2002 after her retirement.   

Norman will be remembered by his family as a very dedicated, hard working and loving man.  All those who knew him had acknowledged that he was living with Crohn's disease.  He was not the type of individual to let his illness interfere with his duties and responsibilities as a principal or as a father and husband.  He controlled the disease;  it did not control him.  Those of us who knew him closely were humbled by his will and determination to do the very best that was expected of him.  From 1973-1975, Mr. Oehrle participated in a research study testing prednisone for the treatment of Crohn's disease.  This study was done through the University of Missouri at Columbia and the University of Colorado. 

They moved from their wonderful community of Moberly after living there for almost thirty years.  They became the caregivers for their grandchildren, David Oehrle, Blake and Addison Darr.  Their grandparent agenda included not only the care of their grandchildren, but much home-schooling and various discipline techniques learned from their years as educators.  Joan and Norman had an intense life-long love of nature.  They instilled in their own children and grandchildren the same love and respect for the Earth.

Norman is survived by his wife, Joan; Nathan and April Oehrle; Brent, Blake and Addison Darr; David and Paige Oehrle; Ann and Larry Riddle; Jean and Bob Miller;  Gary Oehrle and Janice Oehrle; and many special nieces, nephews and cousins.  Norman was preceded in death by his parents and his daughter, Katie Ann Darr, who passed away on May 31st, 2016.  Her funeral was held in Moberly, Missouri and was so memorable in attendance, compassion and beauty that it is to be considered Norman's Memorial Service, as well.  Norman's body has been donated to the University of Missouri School  of Medicine, Gift of Body Program.  His eyes were donated to an organ donor program.  In lieu of flowers, simply enjoy a sunrise or sunset and remember Norm.

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