Michael David Oates, 69, of Cedar Falls, died at the Western Home on April 7, 2009, with his wife, Maureen, at his side. He was a loving and cherished son, brother, husband, father, and grandfather. He was born in Shelton, Connecticut, on September 23 1939, to John and Mary (Regan) Oates and married Maureen O'Leary on June 29, 1963. He is survived by his wife; his son John and wife Marcy of San Antonio, his daughter Cathy and husband Paul of Eden Prairie, Minnesota; his six grandchildren, JD, Phil, Brenna, Lara, Daniel, and Cody; his three brothers, Jack Oates and wife Alice of Columbia, Maryland, Carroll Oates and wife Roberta of Vero Beach, Florida, and Patrick Oates and wife Kathy of Seymour, Connecticut; many beloved nieces and nephews, as well as innumerable friends and colleagues. He graduated from St. Joseph Parish School in Shelton, Fairfield Preparatory School, and Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut. He received his MA from Assumption College, Worcester, Massachusetts; and his Ph. D. from Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. He taught at both Framingham and Malden High Schools in Massachusetts and Georgetown University.
He and his family moved to Cedar Falls in 1967 to begin his career as a professor of French at the University of Northern Iowa. Mike and Maureen are members of St. Patrick Parish, Cedar Falls. Mike was ordained as a deacon in 1978. His work in the diaconate service included ministry in his local parish, the Archdiocese of Dubuque, and nationally with married couple retreats through Marriage Retorno. He co-authored Entre Amis with Larbi Oukada, Personnages with Jacques Dubois, and Earth Science Success: 50 Lesson Plans for Grades 6-9 with his daughter Catherine Oates-Bockenstedt. He was president of the Iowa Foreign Language Association. He was honored as Chevalier dans l'Ordre des Palmes Academique by the Republique Francaise Ministere de l'Education Nationale. In addition he was awarded with the Certificate of Merit by the State of Iowa Department of Education, the Nelson Brooks Award for Excellence in the Teaching of Culture from the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages, the Distinguished Service Award from the Iowa Foreign Language Association, and the Outstanding Educator Award from the Iowa Foreign Language Association.
Mike tried to live by a personal mission statement that he created: "I aspire to live with a grateful heart, to grow more open to God's love and, strengthened by my marriage, family, and friends, to remain true to the long-range, eternal values I claim to be mine." Richardson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. The visitation and funeral mass will take place in St. Patrick Church, West 8th and Washington streets. Visitation will begin on Monday, April 13, at 2 p.m., with the Rosary at 4 p.m. and the vigil service at 7 p.m. Visitation will occur again from 9 to 10:15 a.m. Tuesday, April 14, followed by the funeral mass at 10:30 a.m. Burial will take place in Massachusetts at a future date. Memorials may be sent to St. Patrick Parish, Cedar Falls (with designated distribution to the parish debt, St. Vincent de Paul Society, Feed My Lambs, or Haiti Twinning Parish) or to the University of Northern Iowa Foundation for scholarships in Mike's name to students studying French.
Copyright Waterloo/Cedar Falls Courier, April 12, 2009. page B6.