Wayne Maurice OPHEIM

OPHEIM, JOHNSON, BOTTORFF, NEUVILLE, JUDD, GARNJOBST

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 10/29/2014 at 14:44:41

December 21, 1931 --- October 12, 2014

Wayne Maurice Opheim, 82, passed away at his residence in Stuart, Iowa on Sunday, October 12, 2014. Wayne was born December 21, 1931 in Thor, Iowa to Maurice and Amy (Johnson) Opheim. He attended grade school at Thor and high school at Eagle Grove, graduating with the class of 1949.

Wayne served in the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers from 1952 until 1954 in Korea and was a member of the American Legion for many years. He was a 50+ year member of the Masonic Lodge, served on the Library Board and the Planning and Zoning Board in Stuart. He was a member of the Stuart-Mt. Vernon United Methodist Church and served on several of its boards. He was active in the Congregate Meals program in Stuart, both as a participant and presently had been serving as a member of the Tri-Center Board of Directors, and the Guthrie County Foundation Committee. Wayne and his wife belonged to the Greater Des Moines Volkssport Association, a walking club, and walked an official 10K event in all 50 states and a few foreign countries as well. They also both spent many years volunteering with Living History Farms, enjoying helping as well as building relationships.

Wayne was united in marriage to Louise Bottorff of Harcourt, Iowa on June 14, 1958 at the Harcourt United Methodist Church. The couple made their home for a short time in Lohrville, Iowa before moving to Stuart in 1958. Wayne and Louise are the parents of two children; Amy Louise and John Sinclair. Wayne was the definition of a family man in every sense. He had a clever, quiet sense of humor and a “thumbs up” attitude seen by everyone he would meet. While small in stature, people looked up to him for his integrity and faithfulness.

Wayne was a linotype operator at the Eagle Grove Eagle, Lohrville Enterprise and the Stuart Herald newspapers. He worked in Des Moines several years as pressman in a job shop. His last nineteen years of work were for the Stuart Utilities.

Wayne is survived by his wife of 56 years, Louise; son John (Laura) Opheim of Bennington, Nebraska, three grandchildren: Jacqueline, Claire, and Eric Opheim, son-in-law John Neuville of Royal Oak, Michigan, and two sisters: Donna (Jay) Judd and Ruth (Dale) Garnjobst. Wayne was preceded in death by his parents, his daughter Amy, and sister Marilyn.

Services will be held at the Stuart-Mt. Vernon United Methodist Church on Saturday, November 1 at 10:30 a. m. Memorial contributions may be made to Tri-Center of Congregate Meals in Stuart or to the United Methodist Church, PO Box 127, Stuart, Iowa 50250.