LAFAYETTE - Our Dad, Ira Herman Oertling, Jr., passed away peacefully Thursday evening, November 3rd, with his family by his side. We are happy that now he is walking straight and tall, breathing fresh air and smiling as he reels in the perfect Speckled Trout or in the woods searching for signs of a deer.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, November 7, 2011 at a 10:00 AM Service in La Chapelle de Martin & Castille. Lectors will be Amanda Terry and Sara Judice. Karen Broussard, organist and soloist, will sing for the services, "On Eagles' Wings," "Amazing Grace," "Old Rugged Cross" and "How Great Thou Art."

Interment will be in Fountain Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

Ira was born in 1935 in Welsh, LA, where his father worked as a buyer for a rice mill in Crowley. His family eventually moved to Houston, Texas, where he met his future wife Barbara Davison. They married in 1956 before he began college at Texas A&M University where he played baseball. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in Geology and was transferred to Lafayette by Superior Oil Company where he stayed for 20 years, then moving on to PAR Exploration and Headington Energy.

After retirement he was fondly remembered for working in the hunting and fishing department at Academy Sports for 10 years where he loved speaking to people about the best hunting spots or the right fishing pole to buy. He was an insatiable outdoorsman and spent most of his free time hunting at his camp in Gueydan or on his boat fishing. The last year he enjoyed going to his son and daughter in law's beach house in Johnson Bayou where the whole family would gather to make memories.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 55 years, Barbara Davison Oertling of Lafayette; his five children: Cindy Judice and her husband, Mickey; Linda Terry and her husband Odie; Steven Oertling and his wife, Karen; Mike Oertling and his wife Christine; and Donna Begneaud and her husband Kenny, all of Lafayette. 15 grandchildren: Sara Judice, Leah Judice, Ryan Cormier, Amanda Terry, Laci Oertling Mahler and her husband Chris, Jacob Wiggins, Isaac Wiggins, Rachael Dols, Nick Oertling, Sofia Oertling, Jesse Dore, Daniel Bowen, Tyler Bowen, Erin Begneaud, Heather McGowan and her husband, Ned; and 5 great-grandchildren; and his sister Wanda Leah and her husband Bill Bradfield of Wimberley, Texas.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ira H. Oertling, Sr. and the former Wanda Leah Broussard.

Pallbearers will be Ryan Cormier, Nick Oertling, Daniel Bowen, Tyler Bowen, Chris Mahler, Isaac Wiggins, Jacob Wiggins. Honorary Pallbearer will be Jesse Dore.

A Rosary will be recited on Sunday, November 6, 2011 at 7:00 PM in Martin & Castille's DOWNTOWN Location.

The family requests that visitation be observed on Sunday from 2:00 PM to 9:00 PM and will continue on Monday from 8:00 AM until time of services.

View the obituary and guestbook online at www.mourning.com

Martin & Castille - DOWNTOWN, 330 St. Landry Street, Lafayette, LA. 70506. 337-234-2311

Published in the The Advertiser, Lafayette, LA, on November 6, 2011