Harlow Oberbillig
Harlow Hermes Oberbillig, 82, an active and dedicated mining engineer for over 50 years, passed away from complications of kidney failure on May 21, 2006. Harlow was born on March 13, 1924, in Boise, ID. The youngest son of J. J. and Edith Oberbillig, he was born into a mining family.
Proud of his heritage, he took his place working to advance one of the most important early industries in his home state of Idaho. Throughout his life, Harlow was a proud member of the Idaho Board of Professional Engineers.
As a youth, Harlow attended Boise public schools and graduated from Boise High School with a particular enjoyment of the choral arts. From 1942 to 1943 he attended classes at Boise Junior College and also pursued his love of flying.
As World War II raged, he hoped to join the Army Air Corps but was drafted into the Navy as an electrician's mate on the USS Melvin R. Nawman. His ship was a destroyer escort assigned to the Pacific from which he was able to witness the raising of the American flag over Iwo Jima.
Upon completion of his wartime duty from 1943 to 1946, he joined his father in the mining business and continued an extended courtship of Velma Maurine Wilkerson of Cambridge, ID. Harlow and Velma actually had met courtesy of an introduction by J. J. Oberbillig, and had corresponded throughout the war. The two were married on Aug. 12, 1949, with Velma's sister Imogene Hawkins of Boise as one of the witnesses. From 1950 to 1952, the two newlyweds lived part of the time at the Cinnabar mining operation, located in the mountains above Yellow Pine and Stibnite.
With a desire to complete his undergraduate education, Harlow, with his wife and newborn son Ronald in tow, departed the mountains for the academic halls of the University of Idaho in Moscow.
In 1954, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Metallurgical Engineering. A daughter Laurine was born the same year, and the family moved into their one and only home on the bench, adjacent to J. J. Oberbillig's home. In Boise, Harlow went to work for Porter Brothers as an expert on dredging operations.
For enjoyment, he sang in the Elks' Gleemen.
A second son was born in 1958 and named Kelly, which was Harlow's mother's maiden name. By 1969, the domestic mining economy was depressed, so he took a job mining rutile in Sierra Leone, West Africa, for two years. His next overseas venture lasted ten years. Operating out of Kuala Lumpur beginning in 1972, Harlow managed a tin dredging operation in Malaysia for Pacific Tin. In 1975 at the mid-point of his Malaysian tenure, Velma and Kelly joined him in an around-the-world trip that took them to such exotic places as Manila, Singapore, Bangkok, New Delhi, and Amsterdam.
In 1982, Harlow retired and returned to his Boise address. He sang in the church choir for a time and served as executor for the J. J. Oberbillig Estate and all associated mining claims. To manage the activities of an estate that flourished with increased gold-mining activity in the late 1980s and early 1990s, he put literally thousands of miles on a series of trucks on the road between Boise and Yellow Pine, his favorite retreat.
Harlow was preceded in death by his parents, J. J. and Edith Oberbillig, and two brothers, Ernest E. and Donald D.; Velma, his wife of 54 years, passed away on Oct. 18, 2004.
He is survived by three children, his daughter Laurine Rowe (& Jerry) of Morrison, CO; and two sons, Ronald Oberbillig (& Nancy) of Arlington, VA; and Kelly Oberbillig (& Susan) of Centennial, CO; and six grandchildren.
A proud and patriotic man, Harlow Oberbillig loved freedom and independence. He loved the beauty and wildlife of the great outdoors. He was a 'mining man' who lived life 'his way' from start to finish.
A service in his honor will be held at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery, Boise, ID on May 25.
The Idaho Statesman, Boise, May 24, 2006
Harlow Hermes Oberbillig, 82, an active and dedicated mining engineer for over 50 years, passed away from complications of kidney failure on May 21, 2006. Harlow was born on March 13, 1924, in Boise, ID. The youngest son of J. J. and Edith Oberbillig, he was born into a mining family.
Proud of his heritage, he took his place working to advance one of the most important early industries in his home state of Idaho. Throughout his life, Harlow was a proud member of the Idaho Board of Professional Engineers.
As a youth, Harlow attended Boise public schools and graduated from Boise High School with a particular enjoyment of the choral arts. From 1942 to 1943 he attended classes at Boise Junior College and also pursued his love of flying.
As World War II raged, he hoped to join the Army Air Corps but was drafted into the Navy as an electrician's mate on the USS Melvin R. Nawman. His ship was a destroyer escort assigned to the Pacific from which he was able to witness the raising of the American flag over Iwo Jima.
Upon completion of his wartime duty from 1943 to 1946, he joined his father in the mining business and continued an extended courtship of Velma Maurine Wilkerson of Cambridge, ID. Harlow and Velma actually had met courtesy of an introduction by J. J. Oberbillig, and had corresponded throughout the war. The two were married on Aug. 12, 1949, with Velma's sister Imogene Hawkins of Boise as one of the witnesses. From 1950 to 1952, the two newlyweds lived part of the time at the Cinnabar mining operation, located in the mountains above Yellow Pine and Stibnite.
With a desire to complete his undergraduate education, Harlow, with his wife and newborn son Ronald in tow, departed the mountains for the academic halls of the University of Idaho in Moscow.
In 1954, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Metallurgical Engineering. A daughter Laurine was born the same year, and the family moved into their one and only home on the bench, adjacent to J. J. Oberbillig's home. In Boise, Harlow went to work for Porter Brothers as an expert on dredging operations.
For enjoyment, he sang in the Elks' Gleemen.
A second son was born in 1958 and named Kelly, which was Harlow's mother's maiden name. By 1969, the domestic mining economy was depressed, so he took a job mining rutile in Sierra Leone, West Africa, for two years. His next overseas venture lasted ten years. Operating out of Kuala Lumpur beginning in 1972, Harlow managed a tin dredging operation in Malaysia for Pacific Tin. In 1975 at the mid-point of his Malaysian tenure, Velma and Kelly joined him in an around-the-world trip that took them to such exotic places as Manila, Singapore, Bangkok, New Delhi, and Amsterdam.
In 1982, Harlow retired and returned to his Boise address. He sang in the church choir for a time and served as executor for the J. J. Oberbillig Estate and all associated mining claims. To manage the activities of an estate that flourished with increased gold-mining activity in the late 1980s and early 1990s, he put literally thousands of miles on a series of trucks on the road between Boise and Yellow Pine, his favorite retreat.
Harlow was preceded in death by his parents, J. J. and Edith Oberbillig, and two brothers, Ernest E. and Donald D.; Velma, his wife of 54 years, passed away on Oct. 18, 2004.
He is survived by three children, his daughter Laurine Rowe (& Jerry) of Morrison, CO; and two sons, Ronald Oberbillig (& Nancy) of Arlington, VA; and Kelly Oberbillig (& Susan) of Centennial, CO; and six grandchildren.
A proud and patriotic man, Harlow Oberbillig loved freedom and independence. He loved the beauty and wildlife of the great outdoors. He was a 'mining man' who lived life 'his way' from start to finish.
A service in his honor will be held at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery, Boise, ID on May 25.
The Idaho Statesman, Boise, May 24, 2006
Harlow Oberbillig
Harlow Hermes Oberbillig, 82, an active and dedicated mining engineer for over 50 years, passed away from complications of kidney failure on May 21, 2006. Harlow was born on March 13, 1924, in Boise, ID. The youngest son of J. J. and Edith Oberbillig, he was born into a mining family.
Proud of his heritage, he took his place working to advance one of the most important early industries in his home state of Idaho. Throughout his life, Harlow was a proud member of the Idaho Board of Professional Engineers.
As a youth, Harlow attended Boise public schools and graduated from Boise High School with a particular enjoyment of the choral arts. From 1942 to 1943 he attended classes at Boise Junior College and also pursued his love of flying.
As World War II raged, he hoped to join the Army Air Corps but was drafted into the Navy as an electrician's mate on the USS Melvin R. Nawman. His ship was a destroyer escort assigned to the Pacific from which he was able to witness the raising of the American flag over Iwo Jima.
Upon completion of his wartime duty from 1943 to 1946, he joined his father in the mining business and continued an extended courtship of Velma Maurine Wilkerson of Cambridge, ID. Harlow and Velma actually had met courtesy of an introduction by J. J. Oberbillig, and had corresponded throughout the war. The two were married on Aug. 12, 1949, with Velma's sister Imogene Hawkins of Boise as one of the witnesses. From 1950 to 1952, the two newlyweds lived part of the time at the Cinnabar mining operation, located in the mountains above Yellow Pine and Stibnite.
With a desire to complete his undergraduate education, Harlow, with his wife and newborn son Ronald in tow, departed the mountains for the academic halls of the University of Idaho in Moscow.
In 1954, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Metallurgical Engineering. A daughter Laurine was born the same year, and the family moved into their one and only home on the bench, adjacent to J. J. Oberbillig's home. In Boise, Harlow went to work for Porter Brothers as an expert on dredging operations.
For enjoyment, he sang in the Elks' Gleemen.
A second son was born in 1958 and named Kelly, which was Harlow's mother's maiden name. By 1969, the domestic mining economy was depressed, so he took a job mining rutile in Sierra Leone, West Africa, for two years. His next overseas venture lasted ten years. Operating out of Kuala Lumpur beginning in 1972, Harlow managed a tin dredging operation in Malaysia for Pacific Tin. In 1975 at the mid-point of his Malaysian tenure, Velma and Kelly joined him in an around-the-world trip that took them to such exotic places as Manila, Singapore, Bangkok, New Delhi, and Amsterdam.
In 1982, Harlow retired and returned to his Boise address. He sang in the church choir for a time and served as executor for the J. J. Oberbillig Estate and all associated mining claims. To manage the activities of an estate that flourished with increased gold-mining activity in the late 1980s and early 1990s, he put literally thousands of miles on a series of trucks on the road between Boise and Yellow Pine, his favorite retreat.
Harlow was preceded in death by his parents, J. J. and Edith Oberbillig, and two brothers, Ernest E. and Donald D.; Velma, his wife of 54 years, passed away on Oct. 18, 2004.
He is survived by three children, his daughter Laurine Rowe (& Jerry) of Morrison, CO; and two sons, Ronald Oberbillig (& Nancy) of Arlington, VA; and Kelly Oberbillig (& Susan) of Centennial, CO; and six grandchildren.
A proud and patriotic man, Harlow Oberbillig loved freedom and independence. He loved the beauty and wildlife of the great outdoors. He was a 'mining man' who lived life 'his way' from start to finish.
A service in his honor will be held at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery, Boise, ID on May 25.
The Idaho Statesman, Boise, May 24, 2006
Harlow Hermes Oberbillig, 82, an active and dedicated mining engineer for over 50 years, passed away from complications of kidney failure on May 21, 2006. Harlow was born on March 13, 1924, in Boise, ID. The youngest son of J. J. and Edith Oberbillig, he was born into a mining family.
Proud of his heritage, he took his place working to advance one of the most important early industries in his home state of Idaho. Throughout his life, Harlow was a proud member of the Idaho Board of Professional Engineers.
As a youth, Harlow attended Boise public schools and graduated from Boise High School with a particular enjoyment of the choral arts. From 1942 to 1943 he attended classes at Boise Junior College and also pursued his love of flying.
As World War II raged, he hoped to join the Army Air Corps but was drafted into the Navy as an electrician's mate on the USS Melvin R. Nawman. His ship was a destroyer escort assigned to the Pacific from which he was able to witness the raising of the American flag over Iwo Jima.
Upon completion of his wartime duty from 1943 to 1946, he joined his father in the mining business and continued an extended courtship of Velma Maurine Wilkerson of Cambridge, ID. Harlow and Velma actually had met courtesy of an introduction by J. J. Oberbillig, and had corresponded throughout the war. The two were married on Aug. 12, 1949, with Velma's sister Imogene Hawkins of Boise as one of the witnesses. From 1950 to 1952, the two newlyweds lived part of the time at the Cinnabar mining operation, located in the mountains above Yellow Pine and Stibnite.
With a desire to complete his undergraduate education, Harlow, with his wife and newborn son Ronald in tow, departed the mountains for the academic halls of the University of Idaho in Moscow.
In 1954, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Metallurgical Engineering. A daughter Laurine was born the same year, and the family moved into their one and only home on the bench, adjacent to J. J. Oberbillig's home. In Boise, Harlow went to work for Porter Brothers as an expert on dredging operations.
For enjoyment, he sang in the Elks' Gleemen.
A second son was born in 1958 and named Kelly, which was Harlow's mother's maiden name. By 1969, the domestic mining economy was depressed, so he took a job mining rutile in Sierra Leone, West Africa, for two years. His next overseas venture lasted ten years. Operating out of Kuala Lumpur beginning in 1972, Harlow managed a tin dredging operation in Malaysia for Pacific Tin. In 1975 at the mid-point of his Malaysian tenure, Velma and Kelly joined him in an around-the-world trip that took them to such exotic places as Manila, Singapore, Bangkok, New Delhi, and Amsterdam.
In 1982, Harlow retired and returned to his Boise address. He sang in the church choir for a time and served as executor for the J. J. Oberbillig Estate and all associated mining claims. To manage the activities of an estate that flourished with increased gold-mining activity in the late 1980s and early 1990s, he put literally thousands of miles on a series of trucks on the road between Boise and Yellow Pine, his favorite retreat.
Harlow was preceded in death by his parents, J. J. and Edith Oberbillig, and two brothers, Ernest E. and Donald D.; Velma, his wife of 54 years, passed away on Oct. 18, 2004.
He is survived by three children, his daughter Laurine Rowe (& Jerry) of Morrison, CO; and two sons, Ronald Oberbillig (& Nancy) of Arlington, VA; and Kelly Oberbillig (& Susan) of Centennial, CO; and six grandchildren.
A proud and patriotic man, Harlow Oberbillig loved freedom and independence. He loved the beauty and wildlife of the great outdoors. He was a 'mining man' who lived life 'his way' from start to finish.
A service in his honor will be held at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery, Boise, ID on May 25.
The Idaho Statesman, Boise, May 24, 2006
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