James Ronald Oertling, beloved husband, father, and grandfather, passed away Sept. 22, 2022, at the age of 90. Ronnie was a resident of Sulphur, since 1967. He was born on July 27, 1932, in Crowley, to Ione Mauras Oertling and John James Oertling. He grew up in Jennings, where he was a star athlete, alongside his brother John Mauras Oertling. He attended Rice University and then LSU where he obtained his Mechanical Engineering degree and was in Kappa Sigma Fraternity. He moved to Lake Charles to work for Hercules when the plant was being built. He stayed on through all of the different owners as a stellar employee for his whole career until retirement.
He met his wife, Karen Hoffpauir Oertling, in Lake Charles in 1965 and they married in 1967 and moved to Sulphur. They raised 3 children, Jason Oertling, Jared Oertling and Kristen Oertling Collins and loved their life in Southwest Louisiana. He loved coaching all of his kid’s sports and continued to be an avid sports fan his whole life. He enjoyed golfing, hunting, fishing, playing cards and dominoes. You could always find him cheering on St. Louis Catholic High School sports teams, where his son Jason coaches, and where several of his grandkids played sports. Ronnie never met a stranger and made so many friends throughout his life, but somehow never made friends with any referees or umpires. He was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Sulphur.
He is survived by his wife, Karen Hoffpauir Oertling; his son, Ronald Jason Oertling and spouse Stacey Shackleford Oertling and their 5 children, Kirby Oertling, Hannah Oertling, Ali Oertling, Madison Oertling and Emma Oertling; his daughter, Kristen Oertling Collins and her spouse Lester Collins and their 4 children, Blake Collins, Caitlin Collins, Alex Collins, and Elizabeth Collins; his son, John Jared Oertling and his spouse Jill Donaldson and their 3 sons, Lincoln Oertling, Henley Oertling and John Kale Oertling.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John James Oertling and Ione Mauras Oertling; and his brother, John Mauras Oertling.
A Memorial Mass will be held at Immaculate Conception Church in Sulphur on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022, at 11 a.m. It will be a full mass followed by a reception in the church hall. A private inurnment will be held later at Mimosa Pines Cemetery in Carlyss for immediate family only. Cremation has been entrusted to Johnson and Robison Funeral Home.
Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.robisonfuneralhome.com.