Oliver J. (OJ) Taake

Oliver J. (OJ) Taake, 91, of Olmsted, died at 7:35 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021, at the Illinois Veterans Home in Anna.

Mr. Taake was born on July 17, 1930, the son of Oliver Sr. and Matilda Huebotter Taake, in rural Olmsted. 

He was owner/operator of OJ’s Barbershop in Olmsted from 1969 until 2014. Prior to opening his own shop he worked at Holferdins Barbershop in Cairo. 

He was a lifetime member of St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Olmsted, where he served in various offices. 

Mr. Taake was a U.S. Army veteran. He served in Italy during the Korean War. He was a lifelong member of the Pulaski/Alexander County Farm Bureau.

He is survived by his nephew, Jeff Mowery of Cape Girardeau; a great-niece, Janice Helton of West Frankfort; a great-nephew, Dan Mowery of Anna; a great-great-niece, Emily Holst of Marion; several cousins and many friends.

Mr. Taake was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Kathryn Mowery; aunts Louise Metcalf and Ruth Kibbons; an uncle, Paul Huebotter; and a nephew, David Mowery.

Funeral services honoring the life of Mr. Oliver J. (OJ) Taake were at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 1, at Wilson Funeral Home in Karnak. The Rev. Mike Sharp officiated.

Interment followed in Green Lawn Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Villa Ridge, with full military honors accorded by the U.S. Army National Guard burial detail team and area veterans.

Pallbearers were Ray Taake, Mike Taake, Dale Taake, Bill Miller, Craig Atherton and Phil Atherton.

Memorials can be made to St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Olmsted.

To leave an online message for the family or to share a memory, visit www.wilsonfuneralhome1928.com.

Wilson Funeral Home in Karnak was in charge of arrangements.