Obit: Opelt, Delores J. #2 (1930 - 2013)

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

Surnames: Opelt, Bremer, Bush, Kerby, Gurney, Eibergen, Hediger, Gault, Tessmann

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 4/03/2013

Opelt, Delores June (26 November 1930 - 1 April 2013)

Delores June Opelt, 82, of Granton passed away Monday, April 1, 2013, at the House of the Dove in Marshfield after a battle with pneumonia and POCD.

Delores was born Nov. 26, 1930, to Wayne and Marion (Bremer) Bush in Neillsville. Her dad was a truck driver, so they moved throughout Wisconsin during her childhood years. She was united in marriage to Arnold J. Opelt Jan. 17, 1948, and had just celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary. They lived in the Town of Levis and farmed with her in-laws, Carl and Millie Opelt, for a couple of years and then moved to Wisconsin Rapids where Arnie worked at the paper mill, and Delores was a homemaker caring for their two children.

Then in 1952, they moved back closer to family and bought a farm in Granton and farmed for 15 years. They still reside there today. They retired from faming and both took jobs working for Wick Builders in Marshfield. Delores retired in 1983 from Wick but never retired from helping her children. She loved feeding them, and even though she never at oyster stew, she loved preparing it and enjoyed watching them eat it and tease each other that someone was eating more than their share. Whenever they needed help, she was always there willing and able to lend a hand or give advice. Delores was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother and great-grandmother. Her greatest joy was spending time with her family.

She will be deeply missed by her husband, Arnie; her mother, Marion Bush of Neillsville; her children, Roger (Jeanie) Opelt of Chili, Carol (Rick) Kerby) Gurney of Waukesha, Brad (Darlene) Opelt of Granton, Dean (Lori) Opelt of Hudson, Terry (Diane) Eibergen, both of Granton. Delores is further survived by her most precious gifts of 16 grandchildren and spouses and 22 great-grandchildren. She will also be missed by her surviving siblings, Donna Bush of Florida, Duane (Joann) Bush of Mosinee, Denny (Joyce) Bush of Marshfield, Dixie (Fritz) Hediger of Neillsville and Danny Bush of Altoona.

Delores was preceded in death by her beloved father, Wayne Bush; a brother-in-law, Gene Gault; a son-in-law, Jerome Gurney; a grandchild, Derek Opelt; and one great-grandchild, Tyler Tessmann.

A private family gathering will be held at a later date.

Online condolences may be made at www.geschefh.com.  The Gesche Funeral Home is assisting Delores’ family with funeral arrangements.