Obit: Opelt, Rudolph "Rudy" Carl (1924 - 2005)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon

Surnames: Opelt, Mack, Lipkie, Beyer, Reimer, Anderson, Eddy, Bucholz, Hornback, Schutte, Urlaub, Gutenberger

----Sources: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark County, WI) December 28, 2005

Opelt, Rudolph "RUDY" Carl (March 22, 1924 - December 23, 2005)

Rudy Opelt, age 81, of Neillsville, died Friday, December 23, 2005, at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Marshfield.

Rudolph Carl Opelt was born March 22, 1924, in Neillsville, the son of Carl and Permilla (Mack) Opelt. Rudy graduated in 1944 from Neillsville High School. He worked for the Neillsville Milk Products until he started farming in the Town of Hewett. He farmed for 35 years. During this time he also worked at the U.S. Post Office for 25 years. After his retirement from the Post Office, he worked part-time as a janitor for Neillsville City Hall until the time of his death.

In 1945, he married Marcella Lipkie, they later divorced. On June 25, 1983 he married Theresa "Terrie" Beyer.

Rudy was a member of the Living Hope Evangelical Free Church in Neillsville, and served as their Deacon for two years. He served on the Hewett Town Board and sideboard for 18 years. He was a member of the Haugen-Richmond American Legion Post #73 in Neillsville for over 50 years. He was also a member of the Neillsville Men’s Club, Lions Club and Snowmobile Club.

He enjoyed going camping up north, hunting, fishing, and he enjoyed playing cards and shaking dice with friends and family.

He is survived by his wife, Terrie; his children, Patricia (Ken) Reimer of Hortonville; Penny (Dan) Anderson of Appleton; Gary (Kelly) Opelt of Chetek; Cheryl (Hap) Eddy, Richard Opelt, Bruce (Barb) Opelt all of Neillsville; Randy (Michelle) Opelt of Eau Claire; David Opelt, Rosemary Buchholz, both of Neillsville; Susan Hornback of Poynette; 27 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. Brothers and sisters surviving him are Robert (Dorothy) Opelt of Neillsville,; Arnold (Delores) Opelt of Granton; Bernard (Hanna) Opelt of Christie; Kenneth Opelt of Neillsville; Donald (Sue) Opelt of Greenwood; Dale (Betty) Opelt, Evelyn (Don) Schutte, Jennie (Ben) Urlaub of Neillsville; Dorothy Gutenberger of Granton; and Gordon "Butch" (Mary) Opelt of Neillsville, Wis. Rudy is also survived by many nephews and nieces.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother Bill, brother-in-law Fritz Gutenberger and a sister-in-law Ruth Opelt.

Funeral services for Rudy will be held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, December 28, 2005 at the Living Hope Evangelical Free Church in Neillsville, Wis. Pastor Steven Wentz will officiate. Providing music will be Kathy Meshnick, organist and David Skiff, soloist. Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, December 27, at the Gesche Funeral Home and again from 10 to 11 a.m. on Wednesday at the church. Interment will be in the East Weston Cemetery.

Serving as casket bearers will be his grandsons; Jim, Joe, and Jason Eddy, Brian, Eric and Andrew Opelt.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to the Living Hope Evangelical Free Church, 7 Fairground Ave. Neillsville, WI 54456

The Gesche Funeral Home is assisting Rudy’s family with the arrangements.