Obit: Opelt, Gordon Leonard ‘Butch’ #2 (1944 - 2014)

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

Surnames: Opelt, Mack, Vogelman, Zickert, Bjurquist, Kren, Boyer, Schuette, Urlaub, Gutenberger

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co, WI) 12/03/2014

Opelt, Gordon Leonard ‘Butch’ (4 February 1944 - 27 November 2014)

Butch Opelt, 70, of Neillsville died Thursday, Nov. 27, 2014, at the Memorial Medical Center in Neillsville.

Gordon Leonard Opelt was born Feb. 4, 1944, in Neillsville, the son of Carl and Permilla (Mack) Opelt. He attended grade school in the Town of Levis and Neillsville High School. He then moved to Racine and worked at Hamilton Beach. While in Racine he met his wife-to-be, Mary Vogelman. They were united in marriage Dec. 23, 1965, in Neillsville. They lived in Racine until the spring of 1966, when they moved to Neillsville, and Butch worked for his father at Carl’s Sand and Gravel Company. In 1972, he and his brothers, Dale, Kenny and Bill, took over ownership of their father’s business (Opelt Brothers). In 1996, Butch and his sons took over ownership of the sand and gravel business and named it Opelt Sand and Gravel.

Butch loved racing, often driving a racecar at the local tracks. He enjoyed playing cards and hunting, going to Florida in the winter and going for motorcycle rides. He was a member of the Neillsville Lions Club and the Neillsville Men’s Club.

He is survived by his wife, Mary; four children, Scott (Tara) Opelt of Merrillan, Mike (Shari Zickert) Opelt of Neillsville, Tina (Todd) Bjurquist of Plum City and Carl (Brandy) Opelt of Neillsville; 14 grandchildren: Mindy (Adam) Kren, Nick Opelt, Tia Opelt, Marah Boyer, Tanner Opelt, Alex Boyer, Devon Opelt, Taylor Opelt, Torrie Opelt, Montanna Opelt, Keesha Opelt, Lilly Opelt, Logan Opelt and Brailey Opelt; two great-grandchildren, Harper Rose Opelt and Kennedy Rose Kren. Butch if further survived by nine siblings: Robert Opelt of Neillsville, Arnold Opelt of Granton, Bernard (Hanna) Opelt of Green Bay, Kenneth Opelt of Neillsville, Evelyn (Don) Schuette of Neillsville, Donald (Sue) Opelt of Greenwood, Dale (Betty) Opelt of Neillsville, Jennie (Ben) Urlaub of Neillsville and Dorothy Gutenberger of Lynn; and two sisters-in-law, Jan Opelt and Terrie Opelt.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Rudy Opelt and Bill Opelt; three sisters-in-law, Dorothy Opelt, Delores Opelt and Ruth Opelt; and a brother-in-law, Fritz Gutenberger.

A visitation will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 6, at the Gesche Funeral Home in Neillsville. A celebration of Butch’s life will be held at the American Legion beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 6. Drinks and a light meal will be available during this time. Butch’s family will arrived at 3 p.m.

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