Obituary: Fred Leon Oetzman

Fred Leon Oetzman, 92, passed away on December 10, 2022 at Aspen Creek Senior Living in Anchorage, Alaska.

Fred was born August 2, 1930 on a farm in rural Sauk County, Wisconsin. At seventeen he started working on a farm and continued doing so for his senior year in high school and the first two years of college.

He graduated from Reedsburg High School and Sauk County Teachers’ College. He taught one year at Green’s Corner, a rural school near Baraboo, Wisconsin. He then served in the Army for two years and was a Korean War veteran.

Returning home he taught for several years in a state graded school near Milwaukee. He also taught junior high English for a year in McCook, Nebraska.

In 1959 he received his Bachelor of Science Degree in education from the University of Wisconsin, Platteville. In 1962, he received his Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Northern Colorado, Greeley.

Fred moved to Alaska in 1962 and taught in Anchorage for 23 years. In 1969 he was named Anchorage Teacher of the Year. He retired from teaching in 1986.

After retiring from teaching, he worked several summers for Premier Alaska Tours as a customer service representative.

Fred’s interests were many. Travel, photography, and calligraphy were among them. He was very active in the Alaskan Prospectors Society. For this travel club, he led many trips, gave many programs, and served in various offices and on various committees.

Fred is survived by many relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Nellie Oetzman, his brothers Dean and Paul, and his sister Ruth.

At his request, no service will be held. His body will be cremated and the ashes scattered in Chugach State Park near Anchorage, Alaska.