Carmen D. Oeltjen

Carmen Oeltjen, age 61 of Glenwood, died Saturday, October 9, 2021 at the Glacial Ridge Hospital. A memorial service celebrating Carmen's life will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, October 16, 2021 at Glenwood Lutheran Church. Visitation will be Friday, October 15th from 5:00-7:00 p.m. with a prayer service at 6:30 p.m. at the Hoplin-Hitchcock Funeral Home in Glenwood. Visitation will also continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday. Inurnment will be in the Lake Amelia Cemetery in Villard. Memorial gifts may be directed to Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Arrangements are with the Hoplin-Hitchcock Funeral Home in Glenwood. 

Carmen Deann Oeltjen was born December 26, 1959 in Glenwood, Minnesota. Carmen was the oldest of six children born to Richard and Berniece (Reichmann) Oeltjen. She grew up on a farm south of Glenwood and attended Glenwood Lutheran Church. Carmen graduated from Glenwood High School in 1978. She furthered her education and received her bachelor’s degree at North Dakota State University and her master’s degree from the University of Iowa. She studied math and statistics. Carmen was married briefly. She had no children from this union. Carmen loved her career supporting the Department of Defense in government and contractor positions. Many of her jobs allowed her to live in Germany – her favorite place in the world. She lived and worked in the Stuttgart area for more than 25 years. She also spent several years in Kentucky, Ohio and Missouri.

Wherever Carmen lived she was active in her faith community. She was a coach and volleyball official. Carmen loved skiing in the Alps and having fun with her ski club. She traveled extensively and loved telling stories about her adventures when she returned to Minnesota to spend time with family. Carmen was diagnosed with breast cancer in June of 2019. She returned to Glenwood in March 2020 to be near family. As recently as August she was able to do what she loved, traveling to see friends in Florida. She will be remembered for her love of volleyball, travel, family and friends. She died October 9, 2021 at the Glacial Ridge Hospital in Glenwood.

Carmen is survived by her parents, Dick and Berniece Oeltjen of Glenwood; sisters: Brenda (Don) Sack and Amy (Robert) Schuldt; brothers: Craig (Julie) Oeltjen, Bret (Lisa) Oeltjen and Aric (Leah) Oeltjen; nieces and nephews: Erin (Paul), Hannah, Kate, Adam, Phemie, Adeline and Gus and many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents.

Carmen’s family would like to express special thanks to her friends and military family who helped Carmen at the beginning of her illness which allowed her to extend her time in Germany.

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