Opal V. (Sarchet) BOURNE

BOURNE, HAYES, HAMMER, HAGGART, SARCHET, KINYON

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 1/20/2012 at 13:05:33

May 24, 2004 --- February 26, 2003

ALGONA, IA - Opal V. Bourne, 98, a lifetime Algona resident, died Wednesday, February 26 (2003), in the Good Samaritan Care Center. Funeral service for her was held at 10:30 a.m. Monday in the First Congregational UCC with the Rev. Dennis Secrease officiating. Burial was in Riverview Cemetery, the Wilson Funeral Home of Algona in charge of arrangements. Casket bearers were Mrs. Bourne's grandchildren, John Hayes, Jeffrey Hayes, William Hayes, Carolyn Hammer, William Bourne, Katherine Bourne, Colette Bourne, David Haggart, Jr., Mark Haggart, Richard Haggart, and Andrew Haggart.

Opal Sarchet, daughter of Mark and Vesta Kinyon Sarchet, was born May 24, 1904, in rural Algona, IA. After she graduated from Algona High School, Opal attended Grinnell College, then went to Iowa State Teachers' College where she earned a degree in music education. Opal taught music, dramatics and speech in the schools at LuVerne and Renwick. She was married to Dr. Melvin G. Bourne at Algona on June 16, 1934. They lived at Algona where Dr. Bourne practiced medicine for many years. He died in 1982. Mrs. Bourne was an 87-year member of the First Congregational Church and was recently recognized as having the church's longest continuous membership. She was a longtime choir member and directed choirs in the Methodist and Congregational churches.

Opal was a strong supporter of the arts and held a continuous interest in community activities. She appeared in the first production by the Countryside Community Playhouse, The Egg and I. She was a charter member and past president of the Bel Canto Music Club, held local and district offices in DAR and was a 50-year member of the Order of the Eastern Star. In 1992, the Algona Community Schools named her an honorary member of the Algona High School National Honor Society. She also enjoyed playing cards and loved to spend time with her family and friends.

Opal Bourne is survived by a son and two daughters and their spouses; Dr. William M. and Rita Bourne, Rochester, MN; Julia and Kirk Hayes, Algona and Barbara and David Haggart, Omaha, NE. She has 11 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Her husband, a son, Jerry, her parents and three brothers, Mervin, Earl and Woodrow Sarchet, preceded her in death.

Algona Upper Des Moines - Iowa
February 26, 2003

[former teacher in Renwick, Iowa]