Opal M. (Kohls) 1920-2003

KEFFELER, KRAMER, KOHLS, BECKMAN, DAVIDSON, WALKER, LYONS

Posted By: cheryl moonen (email)
Date: 1/6/2015 at 20:48:02

Gazette, The (Cedar Rapids-Iowa City, IA) - Friday, October 31, 2003

Opal M. Keffeler 83, of Dyersville, died Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2003, at Heritage Manor in Dubuque after a brief illness. Services - 10:30 a.m. Saturday, St. Francis Xavier Basilica. Burial - St. Francis Cemetery. Officiating will be the Rev. Monsignor Ed Petty. Friends may call from 3 to 8 p.m. today at Kramer Funeral Home, Dyersville, with a Scripture service at 3:30 p.m. and rosary at 4 p.m.

At the funeral home today there will be a parish Scripture service at 3:30 p.m. and a Catholic Daughters of America rosary at 4 p.m.

Opal was born May 24, 1920, in Waterloo, Iowa, the daughter of Gustav R. and Bertha M. (Kramer) Kohls. She married Paul B. Beckman in April 1942 at Nashua, Iowa. They farmed outside of Monticello, Iowa, until he preceded her in death in December 1948. She married Edward K. Keffeler on July 29, 1952, at Hopkinton, Iowa, and they made their home in Dyersville. He preceded her in death in May 1977. Opal was a homemaker who was active as a member of the St. Francis Parish as a volunteer and served as regent from 1969-1973 and from 1975-1977 during her 45 years in the Catholic Daughters of America. She also enjoyed many hours with The Knitters Club.

Survivors include her children, Charles (Jenny) Beckman of San Diego, Barbara (Dennis) Davidson of Roseville, Minn., Meg (Bruce) Walker of Vinton, David Keffeler of Cedar Falls, Lynn (Kevin Schwendinger) Keffeler and Sarah (Will) Keffeler-Gibson of Dyersville; four grandchildren, Ann Walker, Olivia Schwendinger, Caitlin and Jordyn Gibson; a son-in-law, Larry Lyons of Dubuque; and a sister-in-law, Anita Keffeler of Paradise, Calif.

She was preceded in death by her parents; both husbands; a daughter, Marilyn Lyons; a brother, Harry Kohls; and a sister, Mabel Williams.