Born and raised in poverty in St. Louis, Oliver E. Auer, 93, left high school after one year to help support his mother and two sisters after his father deserted the family. “My father used to run after the pieces of coal that fell off the coal wagon in the alley [so the family could stay warm],” said his daughter Janet Silosky. A 46-year resident of Arlington Heights, Mr. Auer died of complications after a fall Sunday, Dec. 14, in his home. Mr. Oliver continued working and finished high school at night and at age 20 started night classes at Washington University in St. Louis. He earned a degree in chemical engineering in 1935 and in 1938 met Martha Katherine DuBois, whom he married the same year. For several years after college he worked as a process engineer for Saucony Mobile Vacuum Co. and the Missouri Portland Cement Co. From 1941 to 1943, Mr. Auer did research work into rubber compounds for the government’s war effort as a consultant to the Army Corps of Engineers in Ft. Belvoir, Va. From 1943 to 1957 he worked as an engineer for Girdler Corp., in Louisville. In 1957 he moved to Arlington Heights, where he started working as a senior sales engineer for Pro-Con, a subsidiary of UOP Inc. in Mt. Prospect. He retired as the company’s Midwest marketing manager in 1971. After retiring he worked for two years as a substitute teacher at Prospect High School in Mt. Prospect. He also took German literature and other classes at Harper College in Palatine. “He liked to argue with the philosophy professors,” his daughter said. Other survivors include his wife; a son, O. Nelson; two more daughters, Susan Schroeder and Vicki Berckmann; 11 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Visitation will begin at 3 p.m. Wednesday in the First United Methodist Church, 1903 E. Euclid Ave., Arlington Heights. Services will follow at 4 p.m.
