Obit: Opelt, Virginia Lee (Sue)
(1935 - 2023)
Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail:
dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
Surnames: Opelt, Wildish, Church, Syth, Stieglitz, Ewoldt, Wetzel, Elmer
----Source: Crematory of Wisconsin (Altoona, Eau Claire Co., WI) 2/16/2023
Opelt, Virginia Lee (Sue) (3 December 1935 – 12 February 2023)
Virginia (Sue) L. Opelt, 87, Greenwood passed away peacefully at home under the
care of her family and St. Croix Hospice, on February 12.
A celebration of life will be held 11 a.m., Saturday, April 29 at the family
property.
Virginia (Sue) Church was born December 3, 1935, in Marshfield, to George and
Leah (nee Wildish) Church. She grew up on the family farm and attended Silver
Crest Elementary School in the Town of Pine Valley and Neillsville High School,
graduating in 1953. Sue was united in marriage to her high school sweetheart,
Donald G. Opelt, on May 22, 1953, in Iowa. Early in their marriage she and
Donald worked in Illinois before purchasing their dairy farm south of Greenwood.
Besides becoming a successful farmer, Sue had many other interests including
knitting, quilting, birdwatching, and gardening. She frequented the Greenwood
Public Library, was an avid reader, and enjoyed traveling to Alaska, Canada,
Peru, England, Switzerland, Italy, Kenya, and Tanzania. Annually, Sue and Donald
would take a mix of kids and grandkids on a trip West in their RV camper. Sue
loved animals so there was always a menagerie of dogs, cats, cockatoos,
bottle-fed lambs, rabbits, piglets, peacocks, horses, llamas, and donkeys in her
life. For many years she was a volunteer leader in 4-H and a volunteer tutor at
Greenwood Elementary School. She was a member of Clark County homemakers,
Christie Methodist Church, and the Methodist Ladies Aide. She loved her large
family and until recently hosted all the holiday celebrations and frequent
family breakfasts.
Sue is survived by her husband, Donald Opelt, and her children: Diane Opelt
(Kevin Syth) of Greenwood, Jody Stieglitz (Wes) of Greenwood, Peter Opelt
(Jeanne) of Greenwood, Kaye Ewoldt (Brian) of Neillsville, Julie Wetzel (Jerry)
of Greenwood, Pat Opelt (Barb) of Greenwood, Joe Opelt (Evelin) of Swamp Scott,
Massachusetts, and Kristen Opelt (Brandon Elmer) of Greenwood; 26 grandchildren
and step-grandchildren, and 43 great-grandchildren and step-grandchildren.
She was predeceased by her parents, George and Leah Church; her brother, Eugene
Church; and an infant great-granddaughter.
Online condolences may be shared at
www.cremationsociety-wi.com. Cremation Society of Wisconsin, Altoona
is assisting the family.
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