If an entire community can be judged by the character and deeds of one good man who called that place home, then let’s hope Roger D. Oberg is the standard by which all of Oxford is measured.
‘He gave his heart to the schools and to the community,? said former Oxford Superintendent Mark Orchard. ‘He was a model for all of us in that respect.?
Oberg, an icon in Oxford for 65 years, passed away June 28, 2006 at a hospital in Flint. He was 88 years old.
‘He was someone I’d love to emulate all my life,? said friend and fellow Rotarian Bill Devine. ‘No bad words for anybody, just goodness.?
Summing up the long and productive life of a beloved figure like Oberg in one article is no easy task.
He accomplished so much in his 37 years as an educator and superintendent for Oxford Schools.
He touched so many lives with his advice, guidance, kindness and wisdom.
He did so much good in the community and the world through his charitable giving and volunteer spirit, exemplified by his tireless devotion to the Rotary Club of Oxford.
He brightened so many days with his seemingly endless supply of jokes and the ‘twinkle in his eye.?
‘We don’t know many people that are guaranteed to go (to Heaven), but I think it’s safe to say Roger is,? said local attorney and fellow Rotarian Greg Kudela.
Words are too clumsy and inadequate to summarize the impact of Roger Oberg’s rich and full life, but hopefully what follows will honor his memory, bring a smile to the faces of those who knew him and allow those who never met him to get a sense of what they missed.

Down on the farm
Born and raised in Rapid River, a town in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Roger Oberg began his teaching career in Oxford in March 1941.
Armed with the Bachelor of Science degree he received from Michigan State University the year before, he taught vocational agriculture at the high school.
Back then, the Oxford area had a large farming community and Oberg was ‘really respected and trusted by the farmers? for his considerable knowledge and skills, according to longtime friend, neighbor and fellow Rotarian Joe Bullen.
‘He did things that veterinarians would do like dehorning cattle,? Bullen said.
In the classroom, Oberg inspired his students to join the National Future Farmers of America. As part of this organization, students purchased and raised their own livestock, then used the money generated by these ventures to further their educations.
When students didn’t have the money to buy an animal, Oberg helped them find the funds elsewhere, often reaching into his own pocket.
Oakland County Commissioner Bill Patterson (R-Oxford) recalled a funny story Oberg used to tell involving one of his students and a pregnant sow.
Oberg told the student his sow might need some help during the birth of her piglets. He advised the young man to put on a glove, use some Vaseline and reach in there to aid the delivery.
When Oberg stopped by after the birth, he found the sow ‘rubbing? herself ‘against the gravel.? The student told him he couldn’t find any Vaseline, so he used some Vicks VapoRub.
Oberg’s reputation as an agriculture teacher earned him respect at the state level. In 1953, he was elected president of the Michigan Association of Teachers of Vocational Agriculture. He also served on the state Department of Education’s Advisory Committee on Vocational Education.
When he wasn’t inspiring the next generation of farmers, Oberg taught biology and driver’s training along with coaching baseball, basketball, football and track.
He also kept learning himself receiving his Master of Arts degree in 1949 from MSU.

From classroom to boardroom
In 1956, Oberg became assistant superintendent of the Oxford school district. He held that job until 1961 when he was promoted to superintendent, a position he dedicated 17 years of his life to.
‘He was probably the best superintendent of anyone in the county,? said longtime friend Helen Smith, a 1952 OHS graduate who knew Oberg as a student and later worked with him as a school board member from 1974-77. ‘He was a 20 on a scale of 1-to-10. A fantastic administrator.?
Back then being superintendent was a more hands-on job, something Oberg relished.
‘Oxford being a small district, Roger did everything,? said Dick Megahan, former Oxford assistant superintendent from 1983-94. ‘He went to all the meetings ? transportation, negotiations, school lunch, business. He did everything as superintendent.?
Oberg, who received his Education Specialist degree in Administration in 1966, didn’t climb the school district’s administrative ladder for personal glory or a bigger paycheck. He did it because he had a vision for the district and he wanted to ensure every student received the quality education they deserved.
‘Roger always had the children at heart,? said Mark Orchard, who began teaching in Oxford in 1967 and served as superintendent from the late 1980s to 1993. ‘He loved Oxford and loved the kids of Oxford more than anything else.?
As superintendent, Oberg made sure tax dollars were spent wisely and students received the best education possible for the best value.
‘He squeezed the penny really hard,? Orchard recalled. ‘I was always amazed that he was able to get as much out of a buck as he did.?
Oberg didn’t mind spending his own money if it would save the taxpayers a few bucks.
County Commissioner Patterson, who served on the Oxford Board of Education from 1967 to 1975, said Oberg would regularly take three-to-five school board members to a national conference in Atlantic City.
‘He’d turn in a bill (to the district) for maybe $300 for the whole group,? Patterson said. ‘The rest of it came out of Roger Oberg’s pocket. Nobody ever knew.?
Outside Oxford, Oberg’s opinion on legislation that affected the education community was respected and sought out by his peers, even those who oversaw much larger districts like Utica.
‘They always looked to Roger for direction,? Smith said.
‘Roger kept on top of everything. He was active in (education) associations,? Megahan said. ‘He was a leader both here in Oxford as well as in Oakland County.?
‘He wasn’t afraid to speak his mind,? Orchard said.
In August 1978, Oberg retired as superintendent. Frustration with the school board, the district’s inability to tackle the major problems facing it and the huge volume of paperwork required for state and federal funding programs contributed to his decision.
‘When an administrative job ceases to be any enjoyment it is time to leave,? he was quoted as saying in the July 6, 1978 Leader.

Funny Guy
Everyone who knew Oberg said the same thing verbatim ? ‘He always had a joke.?
The word ‘corny? was often used to describe much of his humor, but it was always meant affectionately.
Whatever occasion, whatever the profession, whatever the situation, Oberg knew a joke ? or could find one ? about everyone and everything.
‘Sometimes I wouldn’t even get the jokes,? said Bill Devine, referring to Oberg’s Norwegian/Yooper humor. ‘But he’d laugh like heck and I’d laugh with him because his body language would take me along.?
From dentist jokes for Greg Gossick, DDS to religious jokes for Christ the King Pastor Bob Holt, no one was safe. But the humor was always playful ribbing, never mean-spirited.
‘He’d always call me ‘Legs?,? said fellow Rotarian Colette Chadwick, recalling her frequent meetings with Oberg while shopping at Kroger.
If Oberg couldn’t tell you his jokes in person, you can be sure he would mail (or e-mail) them or deliver them to your door.
The diehard Spartan particularly enjoyed needling his Wolverine friends like Bill Patterson. One year Oberg showed up to Patterson’s Christmas party wearing an MSU marching band uniform.
Reflecting on Oberg’s humor, Patterson recalled how many years ago Oberg strolled into his downtown pharmacy and innocently asked if he could get a check cashed.
It turned out to be a school bond check for more than $1 million.
The young lady behind the counter ‘looked at it and said ‘I’ll have to check with Mr. Patterson.??

Mr. Rotary
‘Rotary was Roger’s life,? said Patterson.
Oberg joined the Rotary Club of Oxford in 1943 and had perfect attendance until this year, when poor health caused him to miss meetings.
He served as the club’s 10th president in 1947-48 and was named a Paul Harris Fellow in 1981.
From recruiting new members to keeping the club’s history alive, Oberg lived the Rotary motto ‘Service Above Self? and was revered by club members.
‘One of the biggest honors that I’ve had as a Rotarian was when my Paul Harris award was hung around my neck by Roger, who then reminded me that he had earned a hug,? said past club president Janet McPeek, who’s also president of Crossroads for Youth.
Greg Kudela admitted that when he served as club president in 2002-03 he found Oberg to be ‘a little intimidating? at first until one day after a meeting they chatted for two hours. ‘He told me the whole history of the club and gave me a thumbnail sketch of everyone who was in the club at the time,? he said.
As a final act of devotion to the club, Devine said Oberg named the Rotary Foundation in his will, leaving it a sizeable donation.
‘Our big money source is the foundation,? Devine said. ‘It’s used for all the good we do all over the world.?

The Sage
‘For his mentorship, I shall ever be thankful,? said Mark Orchard, who often sought Oberg’s counsel during his tenure as superintendent.
‘He was just so helpful to me throughout my career there in Oxford,? Orchard said. ‘He was usually right on with his observations.?
‘I could always turn to him for some advice,? said Clyde Fischer, former Brandon superintendent and former Oxford assistant superintendent from 1975 to 1983. ‘He had a lot more experience than the rest of us.?
‘He was a person that you could talk to about almost any subject and Roger could give you a new insight,? explained fellow Rotarian Ted Duncan.
Love at the Library
In 1997, Oberg was honored by the Oxford Public Library Friends as the first-ever ‘Friend of the Year.?
He accepted the award in memory of his late wife Florence, with whom he shared 48 wonderful years.
The two met at the MSU library. While Florence was busy studying to become a librarian, Roger was busy studying her ? and falling in love.
Florence went on to work as a librarian at the OHS library, where she spent most of her life, and eventually served on the Oxford Public Library Board of Trustees.

Community Involvement
Oberg took an active role in local affairs outside the education community.
For 17 years, he served on the Oakland County Planning Commission. He also served on the Oxford Township Planning Commission until 1977.
The Oxford Community Development Authority (now the DDA), Cable Commission, Clarence Elbert Stanton Memorial Scholarship Foundation and Oakland County Youth Assistance Advisory Council all benefited from Oberg’s service.
A man of faith who ‘knew his God,? Oberg was a member of Holy Cross Lutheran Church for more than 60 years, serving as member and past chairman of the church board and advisor to the financial committee
To honor all good he did, the Oxford Jaycees recognized Oberg in 1978 with a Distinguished Service award.

Family
Oberg is survived by his daughter Cathy Oberg-Blight, M.D., husband Edward Davison, of Flint, and step grandchildren Ashley and Todd, of Flushing.
He was the cherished brother Robert Oberg, of Rapid River; Hildur Tardiff and Ruth Oberg, of Escanaba; and Helen (Phil) Lott, of East Lansing. Oberg’s also survived by brother-in-law Peter Short, of Escanaba, along with many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by sisters Norma, Margaret, Harriet and Lillian.

Services
Oberg’s funeral service was held Monday, July 3 at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Oxford. Rev. Michael Schulz officiated. Interment followed at Ridgelawn Cemetery in Oxford. Funeral arrangements were handled by the Oxford Chapel of the Huntoon Funeral Home.

Memorials
The family has requested that memorials be made to Holy Cross Lutheran Church Youth Programs or the charity of your choice.