Obit: Opelt, Max Frank Carl Sr. (1868 - 1936)

Contact: Crystal Wendt

Email: crystal@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Opelt, Sternitzky, Martin, Lautenbach, Longenecker, Cermik, VonRuden, Broiher, Filitz, Beeckler, Repbenberg, Mack, Deorste

----Sources: Neillsville Press (Neillsville, Clark County, Wis.) 4 June 1936, Photos from Don Schutte

Opelt, Max Sr. (4 May 1868 - 24 May 1936)

                        Phoebe & Max Opelt

Max Opelt was born in Germany, May 4, 1868, and died at Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire at 8 o’clock p.m., May 24, aged 68 years and 20 days.

At the age of 14 he came to America with his parents, who settled in the town of Lynn. There he grew to manhood, and Nov. 18, 1891, he was married to Miss Phoebe Sternitzky. For a number of years they carried on farming and then Mr. Opelt went into the mercantile business in Lynn Village, which he operated till about 1917, when he traded the store fro a farm in Levis, and was a resident of that town until his death. He was well liked as a business man and as a friend and neighbor. He was honest and upright in all his dealings and a find citizen in every way. He is survived by his wife and five children: Arthur and Carl of Levis; Max Jr., of Shortville; Lillian, Mrs. Paul Martin, of Lindsey; Martha, Mrs. Louie Lautenbach of Levis; also 20 grandchildren. Three children died in infancy.

Funeral services were held at Schiller’s Funeral home Wednesday afternoon, May 27, Rev. G. W. Longenecker officiating. The pallbearers were Joe Cermik, Wm. VonRuden, Geo. Broiher, Elmer Filitz, Geo. Beeckler, and Hiram Ripbenberg.

Those from away attending the funeral were Mrs. Louis Martin and grandson from Plymouth; Mrs. Lee Mack Sr., Mr. and Mrs. Lee Mack Jr., and Wm. Mack of Sheridan, Wis.

----Source: Neillsville Press (Neillsville, Clark County, Wis.) 7 April 1932

OPELT WINS CONTEST

Max Opelt won first prize in the harmonica contest at Adler’s theater Friday night. Marlin Bandelow was second and John Sladek third. The contest, which was conducted by Dr. M. L. Claflin, drew a large crowd. The entertainment met with the hearty approval of the audience.

Phoebe & Max Opelt

Family Notes

Father: of Max Frank Carl Opelt: Charles W. Opelt

Mother: of Max Fank Carl Opelt: Emma F. Deorste

Spouse: Phoebe Seraphine Sternitzky b: 1 May 1870 in Lynn, Clark County, Wisconsin

Marriage: 18 Nov 1891 in Lynn, Clark County, Wisconsin

Children
Frieda Opelt b: 6 Aug 1892
Lillian Dorathia Opelt b: 1 Jul 1894 in Lynne, Clark County, Wisconsin
Arthur Max Opelt b: 2 Nov 1896 in Lynne, Clark County, Wisconsin
Carl Frederick Opelt b: 17 Jul 1899 in Lynne, Clark County, Wisconsin
Martha Selma Opelt b: 18 Sep 1901 in Lynn, Clark County, Wisconsin
Max William Opelt b: 7 May 1903 in Lynne, Clark, WI
Robert R. Opelt b: 6 Oct 1905 in probably in Lynn, Clark, WI
Rudolph R. Opelt b: 8 Oct 1907 in Lynn, Clark County, Wisconsin

Wisconsin Marriage Records

Max F. G. Opelt
Birthplace: Germany
Spouse's Name: Phoebe Seraphine Sternitzky
Spouse's Birthplace: Lynn, Clark Co.
Event Date: 18 Nov 1891
Event Place: Lynn, Clark, Wisconsin
Father's Name: Carl Opelt
Mother's Name: Emma Dorste
Spouse's Father's Name: Carl Sternitzky
Spouse's Mother's Name: Catherine Miller
Race: White
Spouse's Race: White

Wisconsin Birth Records

Martha Selma Opelt
Gender: Female
Birth Date: 18 Sep 1901
Father's Name: Max Opelt
Mother's Name: Phoebe Sternitzby

Robert Rudolph Opelt
Gender: Male
Birth Date: 06 Oct 1905
Birthplace: Lynn, Clark Co, Wisconsin
Race: White
Father's Name: Max Opelt
Father's Birthplace: Germany
Mother's Name: Phebe Sternitzky
Mother's Birthplace: Lynn, Clark Co, Wis

1900 Federal Census, ED 26 Sherwood Forest & Lynn towns, Clark, Wisconsin, United States, family 60, pg. 4

Max F Opelt, white, married (8 yrs) male
Father's Birthplace: Germany
Mother's Birthplace: Germany
Immigration Year: 1881

Household Members
Head Max F. Opelt M 32 (May 1868) Germany
Wife Phoebe S. Opelt F 30 (May 1870) Wisconsin, 4 children - 3 living
Daughter Lillian D. Opelt F 6 (Jul 1894) Wisconsin
Son Arthur M. Opelt M 4 (Nov 1896) Wisconsin
Son Carl F. Opelt M 1 (Jul 1899) Wisconsin
Grandmother Christina Deorste F 82 (Feb 1818) Germany
Brother William Opelt M 16 (Oct 1884) Wisconsin

1905 Wisconsin State Census, Lynn, Clark, Wisconsin, family 82, pg. 264, line 84

Max F Opelt, white married male
Parent 1 Birthplace: Germany
Parent 2 Birthplace: Germany

Household Members
Head Max F Opelt M 37y Germany
Wife Phebe S Opelt F 35y United States
Daughter Lillian D Opelt F 10y United States
Son Arthur M Opelt M 8y United States
Son Charley F Opelt M 5y United States
Daughter Martha Opelt F 3y United States
Son Max W Opelt M 2y United States
Father Carl W Opelt M 63y Germany

1910 Federal Census, Lynn, Clark, Wisconsin, family 74, pg. 4

Max F Opelt, white married male
Immigration Year: 1881
Father's Birthplace: Germany
Mother's Birthplace: Germany

Household Members
Self: Max F Opelt M 41y Germany
Wife: Pheobe S Opelt F 38y Wisconsin
Daughter: Lillian D Opelt F 15y Wisconsin
Son Arthur M Opelt M 13y Wisconsin
Son Carl F Opelt M 10y Wisconsin
Daughter Martha S Opelt F 8y Wisconsin
Son Max W Opelt M 6y Wisconsin
Father Carl Opelt M 68y Germany
Brother William P Opelt M 26y Wisconsin

1920 Federal Census, Clark, Wisconsin, family 1

Max Opelt, white, married male
Father's Birthplace: Saxony Germany
Mother's Birthplace: Saxony Germany

Household Members
Self: Max Opelt M 56y Saxony Germany
Wife: Phoebe Opelt F 49y Wisconsin
Son: Carl Opelt M 20y Wisconsin
Daughter: Martha Opelt F 18y Wisconsin
Son: Max Opelt M 16y Wisconsin