Gerald Justine Oppedal (1915-1933)

OPPEDAL

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 7/22/2024 at 14:48:56

From Story City Herald January 11, 1934 (page 6)

OBITUARY OF GERALD OPPEDAL

Gerald Justine Oppedal was born March 27, 1915, at Stanhope, Hamilton county. At hid death on Dec. 24, 1944, he was 18 years, 8 months and 27 days old. He has lived at Story City since 1926, and has been employed at Mrs. Marie Archeske's farm since last July.

Gerald was baptized by Rev. Goodmanson in the Lake Center Lutheran church, Stanhope, and was confirmed in the local St. Petri church in 1929.

Altho seemingly well Thursday evening, he suddenly took ill during the night at the Archeske home. When called the next morning he was unable to respond. At noon Friday he was brought to his home by his father, and was put under the doctor's care. Death came to him at 7:15 Sunday morning.

Since the State Board of Health does not permit public funerals for victims of Acute Encephalitis, private funeral services where held in the home on Wednesday, with Rev. W. B. Scarvie officiating. The two little sisters, Phyllis and Dorothy, sang "Some Day the Silver Cord Shall Break." Interment was made in the Lake Center cemetery. The pall bearers were George Oppedal, Johann Satre, Imbert Oppedal, John Oppedal, Bloyd Iverson and Haldor Hove.

He is preceded in death by a brother, who died in infancy, and is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. I. G. Oppedal, and five sisters, Ione, Helen, Elaine, Phyllis and Dorothy.

Rev. Scarvie took as his text the words found in II Thess. 2:16-17: "Now our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope thru grace, comfort your hearts, and establish you in every good word and work."

Some of the thoughts brought out were these: When we stand face to face with death and human tragedy our efforts to bring comfort to the afflicted are not of great consequence, even tho it does help them to be surrounded by our sympathy and feel that we are sharing their sorrow. We would feel quite helpless to bring real comfort on this occasion if we could not bring to you the consolation offered by God. Therefore, as the wish and prayer of the apostle of old to his afflicted congregation members was that Christ Himself, and God, even their Father, might comfort them thru love, consolation and hope, so do I make these my words and prayer for you, dear afflicted friends.

The God of comfort has loved us. That is the great, unspeakable Christmas message heard again during this season. He gave His Son to suffering, pain, death and deepest humiliation to make possible the salvation of man from sin. How must not the tremendous cost of this giving of His Son by the Father become clearer to us just on such an occasion as this, when we see and feel how hard it is for us human parents to give up our children when God takes them away. It tears at our heart-strings even when we have the blessed hope and assurance of the child having gone to a better home; but the Heavenly Father gave up His Son to become the Man of Sorrows, to Gethsemane, to Calvary. Thru this love of God he brough us "everlasting consolation," founded upon everlasting redemption and everlasting salvation. And thru His love He also brought "good hope thru grace"--the hope of glory with God; the hope rising above trials, sorrows, burdens; hope reaching thru the shadows of this life up into the sunshine of God's eternal promises in Christ; a hope for those gone before, who have fallen asleep in Christ and are now at home in "the House of Many Mansions, safe from temptations, dangers, griefs, troubles; safe and awaiting the happy day of reunion with those coming later.

This has been a sad Christmas for this home, and the suddenness of this death has brought soberness into many other homes in the midst of their Christmas observance. And still we know that the true Christmas joy has, in spite of all, been yours; the true joy of knowing Christ-child of Bethlehem as your Savior, as the One who has brought you peace in your conscience thru the assurance of forgiveness and mercy, love in your hearts to God, and the desire to show your love in "good words and works."

It is--this Christmas message which contains the comfort against death, the only comfort which could help Gerald. Suppose he had not been baptized or confirmed, had not gone to Sunday School and Church, had not heard the Word or used the Sacrament of the Altar, had not been the object of loving prayers, had given no evidence of the working of the Gospel on his heart--then would your grief be unspeakably more bitter.

God took Gerald quickly, thru a mysterious malady. In it we see the warning. No one who thinks at all can hear of this death without asking himself the question, "Am I ready if such quick summons should come to me to enter eternity?" No other comfort can soothe your wounded hearts than that you have already found in the love of God and our Lord Jesus Christ. Tho God's dealings may not seem to be in love, but in the stern laying on of burdens, you know that He chastens the one He loves, he would test and strengthen out faith, He would have us humbly and trustingly acknowledge that His ways are not our ways, but they are always the kindest and best. Some day we shall understand fully that which now is seen, as thru a glass, darkly.

A stanza of an old Norwegian Christmas hymn applies to you, bereaved ones and does it not speak the sentiments of your grieving hearts?

"Altho my joyful Christmas lay,
Is mingles with my sighing,
The cross shall never take away
My joy and praise undying;
For when the heart is most oppressed,
The harp of joy is tuned the best,
The better strains are ringing;
The cross itself, at Jesus' will,
Must aid my soul, that I may still
In grief His praise be singing."