The Stovebolt Site Forums The Back Office The Passing Lane - Stovebolt Memorials Robert "Oly" Oleis :: January 3, 1947 - February 22, 2013

Jan. 3, 1947 - Feb. 22, 2013

Services for Robert Oeleis, 66, of Camas Valley will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday March 9, at the Christian Fellowship Church in Camas Valley. His friends and family honor his life.

Robert passed early morning Feb. 22, 2013, at the Roseburg VA Medical Center after a more than 15-month fight with brain and lung cancer.

Many knew Robert as “Oly,” and recognized him for his wry sense of humor and cowboy demeanor; always donning a cowboy hat and a pair of boots. He believed strongly in a natural life and in being close to nature, especially animals with whom he had a special gift. He served four years of active duty in the U.S. Navy from 1965-1969, and spent many years of his life as a tree logger and planter, firefighter, and in later years as a volunteer first responder with the Camas Valley Fire Department. In the mid-1970s he also taught adult basic education at Southwest Oregon Community College where he holds degrees in biochemistry/biology and criminal justice. He lived most of his life in Douglas and Coos counties, as well as Napa, Calif.

Oly is survived by his wife, Cindy; mother, Blanche; ex-wife and friend, Carol; daughters, Desiree and Tina; sons, Steven, Hap and Kaleb; brothers, Terry and Chuck; cousins, Howard and Lori Keys, Dennis Keys and Warren Handsaker; and grandson, Daniel.

In leui of flowers, the family is asking that donations be sent to the Cancer Society or braintumor.org for the purpose of funding research into the treatment and cure of cancer.