Paul "Earl" Obermiller

Earl’s service will be livestreamed and viewable below on Friday, July 17, 2026 at 11:00 AM.

Earl Obermiller, 93, of Fargo ND passed away on Sunday, July 12, 2026 surrounded by his loving family.

Paul Earl Obermiller was born to Paul and Alvina (Kohoutek) Obermiller on December 24, 1932 in Jamestown, ND. After graduating from high school at Sacred Heart Academy in Fargo, ND he attended Dakota State Business College and later began working for Ford Motor Company in Fargo. In 1953 he served two years in the Army and returned to Ford until he started college that fall. He received his degree in Mechanical Engineering at NDSU in 1959. Earl returned to work for Ford Motor Company again, in various departments until eventually becoming a Heavy Truck sales engineer. He was transferred to Minneapolis in 1985 and retired in 1990. In 1991, Earl and Katherine moved back to Fargo, ND.

Earl married Marcella “Katherine” Volk on June 29, 1957 in Devils Lake, ND. They celebrated 69 years of marriage last month.

Earl loved spending time in the outdoors, fishing in Canada, and hunting in ND and SD with his father Paul, friends and his sons. He also loved spending time at the lake with his family of five. He eventually built a lake cabin with his family, on beautiful Rose Lake in 1976 where they all spent many summers fishing, and swimming on ‘the best beach ever!’ Earl was a jack-of-all-trades helping many and keeping busy with woodworking and other fix-it jobs. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and the American Legion Honor Guard and spent many hours helping out at the associated ‘Bike Shop’.

After retiring in 1991, Earl and Katherine began to spend winters in Arizona and became official ‘snowbirds’. They spent much of their time golfing, and have bragging rights for hitting several hole-in-ones! They also traveled to many interesting places including throughout the USA, Mexico, Canada and Germany.

Earl is survived by his wife Katherine; children Deb Obermiller, Arvada, CO, Dave Obermiller (Terri), Fargo, Dan Obermiller (Mary), Pequot Lakes, MN, Jane Sparks, Portland, OR, and Sara Obermiller, Littleton, CO; nine grandchildren Lisa (Adam) Hilzendeger, Sue (Cory) Althoff, Maria Obermiller, Andrea (Patrick) Pearson, Katie (Nick) McElhone, Nicholas Obermiller, Kailey (Spencer) Sparks, Garrett (Angela) Sparks, and Luke (Kaitlin) Sparks; and 11 great grandchildren.

Earl is preceeded in death by his parents Alvina and Paul Obermiller, Lois (Jack) Neer, Gloria (George Cook and Gene Peterson), Anna Kiebke (Bill), and son-in-law Greg Sparks.

A funeral mass will be held on Friday, July 17, 2026, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church at 11:00 AM. Visitation will begin one hour prior at 10:00 AM.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Earl can be sent to St. Vincent de Paul or Ronald McDonald House.