Obit: Opelt, Kenneth Fred (1929 - 2016)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Opelt, Mack, Burfeind, Zschernitz, Thoma, Fitzmaurice, McDonough, Bird, Schutte, Urlaub, Gutenberger, Raine, Halvorson, Harder, Erickson, Schoen, Schoengarth, Nemitz, Biebert

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 9/21/2016

Opelt, Kenneth Fred (2 July 1929 - 15 September 2016)

Kenny Opelt, age 87, of Neillsville, WI died Thursday, September 15, 2016 at the Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire, WI.

Kenneth Fred Opelt was born on July 2, 1929 in Neillsville, WI the son of Carl and Permilla "Millie" (Mack) Opelt. He was united in marriage to Ruth Burfeind on November 17, 1949 at the Zion Lutheran Church in LaValle, WI. He worked with his father, running heavy equipment, at Opelt Sand and Gravel and later owned the company, renamed to Opelt Bros. with his three brothers, Bill, Dale and Butch. Along with working at Opelt Bros. Kenny also farmed until his retirement. Ruth died in 2005 and Kenny continued living at home with his son, Alan and his dog, Herman.

He was a member of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church. In his retirement years he enjoyed farming with Jimmy Erickson, running the back hoe for D&L Excavating which his son, Doug, owned and cooking for his family. He made it to Gini's in Granton every Friday to shake dice with relatives and friends. And he took many trips in the area in his Kubota with his dog, Herman.

He is survived by 11 children, Steven (Pixie) Opelt, Eugene (Carol) Opelt both of Neillsville, WI, Gayle (Becky) Opelt of Grants Pass, OR, Alan Opelt, Darlene (Joel) Zschernitz, Rollin (Gail) Opelt, Dawn (Greg) Thoma, Russell (Jill) Opelt, Darla Fitzmaurice, Douglas (Lori) Opelt all of Neillsville, WI and Donna (Paul) McDonough of Plum City, WI, two daughters-in-law, Sally (Jim) Bird and Donna Opelt both of Neillsville, WI, 37 grandchildren, 31 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren, 8 siblings: Robert Opelt of Neillsville, WI, Arnold Opelt of Granton, WI, Bernard (Hanna) Opelt of Green Bay, WI, Evelyn (Don) Schutte of Neillsville, WI, Donald (Sue) Opelt of Greenwood, WI, Dale (Betty) Opelt of Neillsville, WI, Jennie (Ben) Urlaub of Neillsville, WI and Dorothy Gutenberger of Lynn, WI. Kenny is also survived by 3 sisters-in-law, Terrie Opelt, Janice Opelt and Mary Opelt all of Neillsville, WI along with numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth, 2 sons, Keith and Kevin, an infant son, Glen, his parents, Carl and Millie Opelt, 3 brothers, Rudy, Bill and Butch and a son-in-law, Gary Fitzmaurice.

Funeral Services for Kenny will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, September 19, 2016 at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Neillsville. Pastor Timothy Biebert will officiate. Music will be provided by Sharon Nemitz, organist and St. John's Children's Choir. Interment will be in the Dells Dam Cemetery in Levis Township. Visitation will be from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m., Sunday at the Gesche Funeral Home and from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m., Monday at St. John's.

Honorary Casket Bearers are: Joel Raine, Bob Halvorson, Tim Harder, Jim Erickson and Ed Schoen.

Casket Bearers are Kenny's grandsons, Jonathon Opelt, Paul Opelt, Eric Opelt, Josh Opelt, Phillip Opelt, Robert Thoma, Tony Opelt, Danny Opelt, Hunter Schoengarth and Landon McDonough.

Online condolences may be made at www.geschefh.com . The Gesche Funeral Home is assisting Kenny's family with Funeral arrangements.