William Oemichen

Resident of Boutwell's Landing, Oak Park Heights, MN, formerly of Vadnais Heights, MN. Surrounded by his family, our father peacefully passed into the loving arms of God on November 9, 2010 following a lengthy illness. Dad was preceded in death by his first wife, Jean Determan Oemichen in 1954, and by his second wife Lucylee Conger Oemichen in May 2010, as well as grandson, Matthew Oemichen, in 1998. He is survived by children, Beth Oemichen (Craige Scott), William L. (Mary Anne), Mike (Jill), Brett (Sue) and Mark (Marcia); grandchildren, Ariel, Sydney, Amy, Will, Michael, Jennifer, Sara and Megan; and beloved hunting dog, and hiking companion, Ginger. The family extends its deepest appreciation to Linda L. McConnell and family and to the Gables Care Center staff at Boutwell's Landing, especially Max and Rich, for their abiding care and compassion.

Born on November 13, 1926 in Plymouth, Wisconsin to William Friedrich and Ida Mohs Oemichen, Dad spent his formative years helping his family run a Grade A dairy farm and other family businesses. He graduated in 1944 as Salutatorian from Plymouth High School, and enlisted in the Naval Aviation Cadet program later that year. Upon receiving an honorable discharge from the U.S. Navy's Naval Air Corps in 1946, he enrolled at the University of Minnesota, from which he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Science in 1949.

Dad's professional career was profoundly shaped by his dairy farm upbringing as well as by the devastation wrought upon Midwestern agriculture by the Dust Bowl of the 1930's. Beginning in 1949, he served with distinction for 32 years with the U.S. Soil Conservation Service (SCS) during which he was tasked with teaching soil and water conservation best practices to farmers, and improving watersheds through the implementation of myriad flood, erosion and feedlot pollution control programs throughout Southwestern and West Central Minnesota. Putting theory into practice, Dad also purchased Ridge Lake Farm in Northeastern Swift County in 1967 and operated the farm until the beginning of the 21 ^st century, taking great pride in the various awards bestowed upon Ridge Lake by the state of Minnesota and various conservation groups for the adoption of pioneering wildlife conservation practices.

Dad retired from SCS in 1981 but continued to lend his expertise to a variety of agencies, boards, and educational organizations including the Minnesota Waterfowl Association; the Vadnais Heights Planning Commission; the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources , which named him as one of the agency's distinguished citizens; the Citizens Advisory Committee to the Minnesota Legislative Commission of Natural Resources; and the University of Minnesota College of Food, Agricultural, and Natural Resources Sciences, which honored him as a distinguished alumnus. Retirement also afforded Dad the opportunity to further indulge his passion for hunting and fishing. Aside from the camaraderie born of shared experiences with cherished friends and family, Dad never once failed to use these expeditions as an opportunity to hone his craft as a master Ole and Lena joke teller.

His family is immensely proud that Dad's legacy of soil and water conservation and watershed management best practices will endure and benefit Minnesota land and water resource users for several generations to come.

Memorial Service 2 PM Saturday, November 20, 2010 with visitation beginning at 1:30 PM at THE SWANSON FAMILY CHAPEL OF BOUTWELL'S LANDING , 5590 Norwich Parkway, Oak Park Heights, MN. Memorial contributions in the name of William P. Oemichen may be made to: Minnesota Cooperative Education Foundation; Ramsey County Humane Society; or Fund# 5505 - Carp Management Research, c/o the University of Minnesota Foundation, 200 Oak Street SE, Suite 500, Minneapolis, MN 55455.