Rev. Deacon Omer H. Bertke

Rev. Deacon Omer Henry Bertke, age 91, of Maria Stein, died Wednesday, September 23, 2020 at Briarwood Village. He was born March 25, 1929 in Maria Stein to the late Ivo & Christine (Albers) Bertke. He married Rita Marie Dahlinghaus on November 11, 1953, and she preceded him in death on December 23, 2019. He is survived by eight children, Steven & Dianne Bertke of New Bremen, Kathleen & Harold Bruns of Versailles, Mary Jo & Marvin Koester of Celina, Denise & Lawrence Kunk of Yorkshire, Patrick & Claudia Bertke of Mays Landing, New Jersey, Gerelyn & Raymond Moeller of Mendon, Gerard Bertke of New Bremen and Gregory & Anita Bertke of New Bremen; 20 grandchildren;  39 great-grandchildren and 1 on the way; siblings and in-laws, Jovita Osterloh of St. Henry, Urban Bertke of New Bremen, Sr. Martha Bertke of Coldwater and Betty Bertke of Maria Stein;  and in-laws, Velma Spangler of St. Henry, Betty & Melvin Bruggeman of Anna, David & Pat Dahlinghaus of Maria Stein, Marcia Dahlinghaus of Arizona;, Marlene Dahlinghaus of Maria Stein,. He was preceded in death by siblings & in-laws; Lewis & Rita Bertke, Stanley Bertke Othmar Osterloh and Dorothy Bertke and brothers-in-law Jim Dahlinghaus & Carl Spangler. He was a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Maria Stein, Uniform Rank of the Knights of St. John, Maria Stein American Legion, church bereavement committee, Mercer County Right to Life. He served in the US Army.  Omer was ordained a Deacon in 1987 and served the Marion Catholic Community.  A private family only Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 AM on Saturday, September 26, 2020 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Maria Stein. Mass will be live streamed at www.marioncatholiccommunity.org . Burial will follow in St. John Cemetery with full military honors.  Hogenkamp Funeral Home in Minster has been entrusted with the arrangements. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to State of the Heart Hospice 230 W. Main St. Coldwater, OH 45828 and Maria Stein Shrine of the Holy Relics 2291 St. John Rd. Maria Stein, OH 45860. Condolences may be left at www.hogenkampfh.com.