Obituary: Oulman, Steven Donald
Age 69
November 15, 1942 - July 19, 2012
Steven Donald Oulman passed away suddenly at Sacred Heart Medical Center, Spokane WA on July 19, 2012 at the age of 69.
He is survived by his two sons, Scott and Landon Oulman; mother Marcella Gallagher; sisters Donna Sorte and Marie Sanders; brother Matthew Oulman; aunts Arlus Marron and Katherine Hoyt; uncle Wilbur Bjerke; and various nephews and nieces.
Steven was preceded in death by his father Donald Oulman, uncles Lester Bjerke, Kermit Bjerke, and Harold Bjerke, and aunt Evelyn Thomas.
Steven was born on November 15, 1942 on a farm in Mahnomen, MN belonging to his grandparents, Edwin and Katherine Bjerke, while his father Donald Oulman was serving in the United States Coast Guard during World War II.
He grew up as a young boy in Minneapolis until 1953 when his family moved to Spokane.
He later moved to France from 1957-1961 where he completed high school at Chateauroux Air Force Station in 1960.
He returned to the United States and attended Boise Junior College, and later was employed at Hughes Aircraft Co., Culver City, CA.
He entered the Army in Los Angeles, CA and served honorably and proudly for three years from 1964 to 1967.
He attended the United States Army Artillery and Missile Officer Candidate School at Fort Sill, OK.
He completed the Hawk Missile and Launcher Maintenance Program and Officer Candidate School in 1965.
He entered into active service as a 2nd Lieutenant and was an Officer Candidate School instructor before serving in the Vietnam War as member of the 25th Artillery Division.
During his time in Vietnam, he was involved in the Tet Offensive.
He obtained the rank of 1st Lieutenant in 1966 before he was honorably discharged in 1967.
Steven returned to Spokane and was employed as a loan officer at Beneficial Finance Co. where he met Jana Renee Breitsprecher.
They were later married in 1968.
Together they raised their two sons, Scott and Landon Oulman.
He also worked at Old National Bank before being employed at Burlington Northern Railroad in 1974.
Steven loved trains, and followed that passion by becoming a locomotive engineer for the railroad for 30 years before retiring.
Steven had many hobbies he enjoyed with his family.
He was an avid fisherman.
He fished on almost all the lakes in Eastern Washington with this sons, brother, and uncles.
He was an accomplished rose gardener who grew beautiful displays around his home and others.
Steven loved to raise tropical fish, especially the colorful South American Discus with his sons and his brother Matthew Oulman.
He teamed up with his son Landon and formed a father-son bowling team and frequently bowled at Five Mile and Lilac Lanes bowling alleys.
Steven enjoyed model railroading, he liked to build personal computers part by part with his sons, and he was a devoted W.S.U Cougar, Seattle Mariners, and Spokane Chiefs fan.
He took his sons to many W.S.U games in the late 1980s and the 1990s when Mike Price was the head coach, and together they got to watch many N.F.L and former W.S.U players such as Drew Bledsoe and others.
He also travelled to Seattle with his sons and got to watch Ken Griffey Jr, Edgar Martinez, and others play in the old Kingdome.
He watched many Spokane Chiefs games with his sons, but his favorite team was 1990-1991 Memorial Cup champion team featuring N.H.L.
stars Ray Whitney, Pat Falloon, Jon Klemm, and Trevor Kidd.
Steven also enjoyed the simple things in life like watching movies or enjoying a late night coffee.
Steven was a loving father and wonderful family man.
He will always be deeply loved and sorely missed by all his family until such time when we can all meet again.
Viewing will be at Heritage on Tuesday, July 31st through Thursday, August 2nd, 10AM-5PM each day.
Funeral Service will be held at Heritage Chapel on Friday, August 3rd at 11:00 AM followed by burial which will be held at the Washington State Veterans Cemetery in Medical Lake, WA at 1:30 PM.