Stapleton will always be ‘home’ to me and I think it became ‘home’ to Dick as he made friends in the time we were able to be there so I felt our hometown paper was right for his obituary.
Richard G. (Dick) Oglebay passed away at his home in Tucson, AZ. on October 31, 2025, ten days short of his 99th birthday. Dick was born on Nov 10, 2026 in Omaha NE, one of three children of Mildred (Joy) and Rollin Harold Oglebay. His first year of school was at Maxwell, NE, where his family was living in a hotel close to Highway 30 and the railroad tracks, while his father worked as a dragline operator in the area,
When his parents separated, Dick stayed with his father, living wherever work took them and at other times with his grandparents and relatives in Osceola or his grandparents in Omaha. With no toys, he found the Omaha streets worked well to maneuver a metal ring with a stick and the street cars flatten pennies placed on the rails. A brief summer visit with his mother and step father in Rock Island, IL, turned permanent and Dick graduated from the Rock Island school in 1946. He excelled in track, hurdles and broad jump, and set a broad jump school record that stood for over 30 years. He was awarded a track scholarship but chose the Army Air Force over college. During his time in Okinawa, a win at a track contest led to several months of competing in track events at bases around Okinawa and Japan
After returning to Rock Island, Dick worked manufacturing jobs and took a business course. He met his future wife, Marilyn Jeanne (Kook) Oglebay at this business school. The parents of three children, they had been married 45 years when she passed away in 1993. Early in their marriage they lived briefly in California where Dick was employed by Reuland Electric. When they decided to move back to Illinois, Dick was told the company was building a plant in Michigan and would call him if he was interested. Dick worked at the Howell, Michigan plant for 24 years, many as the plant manager.
In 1975 Dick, Marilyn and son, Gary, moved to Tucson. After taking an accounting course, Dick worked for a CPA firm before starting his own business, ARGO Accounting that he operated until 2014.
Avid bowlers Dick and Marilyn were active in the youth bowling program and competed in many local events. Dick and Alta (also an avid, bowler) met at their favorite bowling alley, Golden Pins, in 1997, and spent much of the next years pursuing their interests, bowling (national and local tournaments, league and finally just colored pins when the alley closed), golfing (Augusta Wind of course), square and round dancing, and their jobs, ARGO Accounting and H & R Block. They were married in January 2006. Members for over 15 years of the Open Door Baptist Church of Catalina, Dick served as greeter until severe falls curtailed his activities.
He is survived by his three children, Kathy (Glenn) Gauss, Karen (Paul) Higbee, both of Michigan, and Gary (Julie) Oglebay of Tucson AZ., his wife, Alta, Tucson, stepson Monty (Deb) Perry, North Platte; grandchildren, Jeni and Erin Gauss and Dennis (Shelly) and John Lachrone of Michigan, Chelsea and Rachael Oglebay of Tucson, and a brother-in-law, Arlen Bay of Stapleton. He is also survived by three great grandchildren, a number of step grandchildren and great grandchildren, plus nieces and neph-ews and their children.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Marilyn, his siblings, Robert and wife and Betty and Warren (Dude) Hender, step son, Robert (Bob) Perry and sister-in-law, Donna Bay.
Interment will be in the Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Marana, AZ, on February 27, 2026.
