William Busch (Bill) Oelfke, 91, of Houston, Texas, passed away peacefully on December 5, 2025. Born in Houston, Texas on June 2, 1934, Bill lived a life filled with love, service, humor, and quiet integrity that touched everyone who knew him.
Bill attended Stephen F. Austin High School in Houston and went on to study at Rice University before graduating from Austin College with a degree in Chemistry. Planning to go to medical school, he took a summer intern job at Dow Chemical with the help of his brother Karl. While at Dow, he managed several Plants, the Marine Department and ended as a Lobbyist in Austin representing Dow Chemical on The Texas Chemical Council for 10 years. That summer job lasted for 37 years when he retired in 1993.
Following retirement, Bill served on the Brazosport Economic Development Council, helping guide growth and opportunity in the community he cared for deeply.
For nearly 70 years, Bill was a devoted member/Elder/Deacon of First Presbyterian Church in Lake Jackson TX, where his faith quietly shaped how he lived—always kind, patient, humble, and a steady peacemaker. His faith was not expressed through grand gestures but through consistent acts of care and service that embodied the fruits of the Spirit.
Bill also served on the Board of Directors of Mo-Ranch in Hunt, Texas, a place that reflected his deep appreciation for fellowship, nature, and spiritual renewal.
Away from work and service, Bill loved the game of golf and the camaraderie it brought—his lifelong foursome, affectionately known as “GOLK – Gorsuch, Oelfke, Leshikar and Kolar” held decades of laughter, friendly competition, and shared stories.
A natural “engineer and fix-it guy,” Bill delighted in solving problems, tinkering with tools, and keeping things running smoothly—whether it was a household project or lending a helping hand to a neighbor. His love for outdoor work, golf, and family projects reflected his down-to-earth approach to life.
As a grandfather the true spirit of Bill was reflected, and it was in this role that he earned the name ‘Buddy’. His love for his grandchildren was never questioned and was demonstrated in simple gestures of fishing, golf, riding the horse or the gator or just spending time telling stories or asking questions and paying attention to answers.
Bill was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 67 years, Nancy Lynne Sizer Oelfke, who passed away on December 5, 2023. He is survived by his two sons, Bill (Melanie) and David (Rosanne); seven grandchildren—Will, Hank, Kate, Meg, David Hill, Kendall, and Sam; and three great-grandchildren—Hill, Houston, and Eleanor. Each of them inherited his warmth, humor, and grace.
For those who knew him, Bill will be remembered as genuinely friendly, endlessly nice, and deeply dependable—a wise man who lived his faith through the way he treated others. He will be profoundly missed and forever loved.
A celebration of Bill’s life will be held at a later date.
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William Busch (Bill) Oelfke, 91, of Houston, Texas, passed away peacefully on December 5, 2025. Born in Houston, Texas on June 2, 1934, Bill lived a life filled with love, service, humor, and quiet integrity that touched everyone who knew him.
Bill attended Stephen F. Austin High School in Houston and went on to study at Rice University before graduating from Austin College with a degree in Chemistry. Planning to go to medical school, he took a summer intern job at Dow Chemical with the help of his brother Karl. While at Dow, he managed several Plants, the Marine Department and ended as a Lobbyist in Austin representing Dow Chemical on The Texas Chemical Council for 10 years. That summer job lasted for 37 years when he retired in 1993.
Following retirement, Bill served on the Brazosport Economic Development Council, helping guide growth and opportunity in the community he cared for deeply.
For nearly 70 years, Bill was a devoted member/Elder/Deacon of First Presbyterian Church in Lake Jackson TX, where his faith quietly shaped how he lived—always kind, patient, humble, and a steady peacemaker. His faith was not expressed through grand gestures but through consistent acts of care and service that embodied the fruits of the Spirit.
Bill also served on the Board of Directors of Mo-Ranch in Hunt, Texas, a place that reflected his deep appreciation for fellowship, nature, and spiritual renewal.
Away from work and service, Bill loved the game of golf and the camaraderie it brought—his lifelong foursome, affectionately known as “GOLK – Gorsuch, Oelfke, Leshikar and Kolar” held decades of laughter, friendly competition, and shared stories.
A natural “engineer and fix-it guy,” Bill delighted in solving problems, tinkering with tools, and keeping things running smoothly—whether it was a household project or lending a helping hand to a neighbor. His love for outdoor work, golf, and family projects reflected his down-to-earth approach to life.
As a grandfather the true spirit of Bill was reflected, and it was in this role that he earned the name ‘Buddy’. His love for his grandchildren was never questioned and was demonstrated in simple gestures of fishing, golf, riding the horse or the gator or just spending time telling stories or asking questions and paying attention to answers.
Bill was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 67 years, Nancy Lynne Sizer Oelfke, who passed away on December 5, 2023. He is survived by his two sons, Bill (Melanie) and David (Rosanne); seven grandchildren—Will, Hank, Kate, Meg, David Hill, Kendall, and Sam; and three great-grandchildren—Hill, Houston, and Eleanor. Each of them inherited his warmth, humor, and grace.
For those who knew him, Bill will be remembered as genuinely friendly, endlessly nice, and deeply dependable—a wise man who lived his faith through the way he treated others. He will be profoundly missed and forever loved.
A celebration of Bill’s life will be held at a later date.
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