Robert Oppenlander

Lieutenant Colonel Robert Warren Oppenlander passed into eternal rest at his home in Denton, Texas on June 21, 2009, with his family at his side. LTC Oppenlander was born in Clay Center, Kansas on August 3, 1933 to Alfred and Elsie Oppenlander. The family moved to Junction City when he was at an early age. He graduated from Junction City High School in 1951, having lettered in football, basketball, and track. He volunteered for the draft in 1953 and was assigned to an honor guard unit in Germany. When his tour of enlisted service was complete, he attended El Dorado Junior College at El Dorado, Kansas. In his junior year, he transferred to Kansas State Teachers College in Pittsburg, Kansas. He was an active member of Tau Kappa Epsilon, Army ROTC, Scabbard & Blade, and The Pershing Rifles. On June 1, 1959 he was united in marriage with Patricia Ann Selburg of Pittsburg. On that day he also received his Bachelor's Degree and his regular army commission. His first permanent assignment was with the 82nd Airborne Division. LTC Oppenlander received his Master’s Degree from the University of Oklahoma at Norman in 1963. In 1964 he was promoted to the rank of Captain and commanded the 472nd Military Police Company in Ft Wainwright, Alaska. In 1967 he volunteered for duty in Vietnam and was promoted to the rank of Major later that year. He was awarded the Bronze Star for his service in that conflict. Returning to duty at Ft. Hood, Texas, he participated in the establishment of the Dallas SWAT team, writing their first standard operating procedures guide. Among other duties, at this post he served as the executive officer of the 518th Military Police Battalion. In 1969 he returned to Ft Wainwright, Alaska, serving as Provost Marshal until 1973. LTC Oppenlander was then transferred to Pennsylvania, where he commanded Readiness Group Oakdale, was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, and received the Meritorious Service Medal. Next, he served as Provost Marshal for the Viet Nam Relocation Project in Ft. Chaffee, Arkansas, and was awarded the Oak Leaf Cluster for the Meritorious Service Medal. His final assignment was at Ft. Sam Houston, Texas, as a reserve component and National Guard advisor. At his retirement in 1978, he was awarded the Legion of Merit for a career of exemplary service to his country. In his retirement, LTC Oppenlander earned a Lifetime Teaching Certificate from the state of Texas, and studied for a real estate brokers license. He enjoyed playing the harmonica and his guitar and completed many projects around the home. He moved to the Dallas-Fort Worth area in 1991, and moved to Denton in 2003. LTC Oppenlander was preceded in death by both parents and both of his brothers, Chris and Bruce. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Patricia; two daughters, Elizabeth and Carole; one son, Scott; and five grandchildren: Angela, Austin, Brian, Robert, and Chris. He took enormous pride and delight in his children and grandchildren, speaking of them often. Respects may be paid to the family at the Neil-Schwensen-Rook funeral home in Clay Center, Kansas from 9:00 to 10:30 am on Saturday, July 11. The interment ceremony will take place at Greenwood Cemetery in Clay Center at 11:00 the same day. The family has requested that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made in LTC Oppenlander's name to Vietnam Veterans of America (http://vva.org) or Disabled American Veterans (http://dav.org).