Jasper Parks announces new endowment in assistant superintendent’s memory
Before a moment of silence was held at the monthly Jasper Park Board meeting to honor the passing of Assistant Superintendent Mike Oeding, Park Superintendent Ken Buck announced a new endowment had been established in Oeding’s name.
The new endowment named Jasper Park and Recreation Department in Memory of Mike L. Oeding was created to support the further development of the Jasper Parks. According to Buck, the funds would predominantly go to support the Jasper City Mill and The Parklands.
“Mike loved the mill,” Buck explained.
Oeding was responsible for bringing a national convention of waterwheel mill enthusiasts to the city in 2012.
Oeding, who passed away Wednesday, August 26 at his home in Ireland, joined the park department January of 1977.
I remember it was January 24th specifically because it was snowing and he came pulling in back behind the pool there,” Buck said referring to where the park department office was at the time.
At the time, the department had one little car and a truck to use for maintenance. “You can see how the park department has flourished since those days,” Buck said. “The train, the mill, the Riverwalk, the Sports Park, the Habig Center, just on and on and on. He saw a lot of growth through the department and we are going to miss him.”
The loss has left the department reeling. Buck has relied on Oeding to take care of issues in the field as he dealt with the administrative side of the department. “It has been a shock. You know you talk to the guy the night before when he is heading off to Evansville to get some sod and then the next day he’s gone,” Buck said.
Buck said he received a call on that Wednesday from J.P. Stemply. Stemply, a park department employee who worked directly with Oeding, also serves as a volunteer firefighter and first responder. He had responded to the Oeding’s home when the call went out.
“J.P.’s voice was breaking and he told me that he had bad news,” Buck remembered. “He said Mike had died.”
Buck explained that Oeding’s knowledge is already being missed across the department as they work through that loss. “Mike had a lot of knowledge. I don’t even know some of it,” Buck said. “Mike just did things.”
Board President Roger Seger pointed out that Oeding was very passionate about The Parklands and its future development. “He spent a lot of time out there and mowed some of it himself,” Seger said. “He was a nature guy and had a lot of ideas. He was really looking forward to this project and he will be missed.”
Those interested in supporting the new endowment can contact the Jasper Park Department, Arnold F. Habig Community Center, 1301 St. Charles Street, at 812-482-5959 or the Dubois County Community Foundation, 600 McCrillus Street, at 812-482-5295.
