John Elder Opheim - 1948-1988

OPHEIM, ELLINGSON, BYRNES, WEDO, KARAM

Posted By: Connie Ellis (email)
Date: 1/17/2011 at 20:27:52

SOURCE: Waukon, Iowa newspaper, April 1988
Contributor: Connie Ellis (Not related)

John Elder Opheim died Saturday, April 16, 1988 at his home in Flagstaff, Arizona at the age of 39 after a short illness. Funeral services were held April 20 at Trinity Heights Methodist Church in Flagstaff with Pastor Nathan Holt officiating. Burial was in Citizens Cemetery in Flagstaff.

John was born October 17, 1948 in Waukon, Iowa to Harold and Bernice (Ellingson) Opheim. He graduated from the Waukon High School in 1966. He attended North Iowa Area Community College in Mason City, Iowa. He served four years in the army and in 1974 moved to Flagstaff to attend Northern Arizona University. He received his degree in business management in 1977.

He was a member of Trinity Heights Methodist Church, Flagstaff Jaycees, NAU and NIACC Veterans Club, and was pro rodeo chairman for three years.

He was preceded in death by his father Harold Opheim who died in 1950 and his step-father, Duane Wedo, who died in 1977.

He is survived by his wife, Vernetta "Sam" Opheim; a son, Brett, age five and a daughter, Heather, age three; his mother Bernice and her husband, Mark Byrnes of Phoenix, Arizona; 3 brothers Lyle Opheim of Postville, Iowa, Jim Wedo of Killen, Texas, and Mark Wedo of Colorado Springs, Colorado; and a sister, JoAnn Karam of Reno, Nevada.