Obit: Opelt, Arnold James (1926 - 2019)

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

Surnames: Opelt, Mack, Bush, Kerby, Gurney, Eibergen, Schutte, Urlaub, Gutenberger, Tessman, Hanuszczak

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 11/20/2019

Opelt, Arnold James (10 October 1926 – 16 November 2019) With Flag

Arnold Opelt, age 93, of Granton, died Saturday, November 16, 2019 at the Aster Assisted Living Center of Marshfield.

Arnold James Opelt was born on October 10,1926 in Neillsville, the son of Carl and Permilla (Mack) Opelt. He attended Neillsville area schools and then, at the age of 15, hitchhiked to South Dakota, where he worked with horses in the wheat fields thrashing the wheat, and sleeping in the hayloft. Arnie served in the United States Army from 1945 until 1947. He then returned home and worked on the family farm. He was united in marriage to Delores Bush on January 17, 1948 and had just celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary before Delores died on April 1, 2013. They lived in the town of Levis and farmed with his parents, 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 first two children. Then in 1952 they moved back closer to family and bought a farm in Granton and farmed for 15 years. They retired from farming and both took jobs working for Wick Builders in Marshfield. Delores retired in 1983 from Wick, and Arnie, along with his CB handle of “Unconscious”, retired after 25 years of trucking mobile homes.

Arnie enjoyed hunting, fishing, traveling out west to hunt and playing sheepshead. In 2016, on his 90th birthday he had the privilege to travel on the Honor Flight to Washington D.C.

He will be deeply missed by his children, Roger (Jeanie) Opelt of Chili, Carol (Rick Kerby) Gurney of Watertown, Brad (Darlene) Opelt of Granton, Dean (Lori) Opelt of Hudson, Terry (Diane) Opelt and Pam (Keith) Eibergen both of Granton. Arnie is further survived by 16 Grandchildren and spouses, 27 Great Grandchildren and 1 Great-Great-Grandchild. He will also be missed by his surviving siblings, Robert Opelt of Neillsville, Bernard (Hannah) Opelt of Green Bay, Evelyn (Donald) Schutte of Neillsville, Donald (Sue) Opelt of Greenwood, Dale (Betty) Opelt of Neillsville, Jennie (Ben) Urlaub of Neillsville, and Dorothy Gutenberger of Granton.

Arnie was preceded in death by his parents, a son-in-law, Jerome Gurney, a grandchild, Derek Opelt, one great-grandchild, Tyler Tessman, a granddaughter-in-law, Nicole Hanuszczak and four brothers, Bill, Rudy, Butch and Kenny Opelt.

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 Arnie's family with Funeral arrangements.