Marcella "Marcie" Opfer
Marcella “Marcie” E. Opfer, 101, of Waukon died Saturday, July 25, 2020 at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Graveside services were held Tuesday, July 28 at Zalmona Cemetery in rural Waukon with Pastor Tim Rupert officiating. Memorial services may be held at a later date.
Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling the arrangements. Condolences can be sent to Sheryl Prestemon at 24 Eighth Avenue NW, Waukon, IA 52172. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Good Samaritan Society in Waukon, Zalmona Presbyterian Church or Zalmona Cemetery.
Marcella E. Opfer was born June 9, 1919 in Decorah, the daughter of John and Anna (Lotvedt) Moen. She was baptized and confirmed at Washington Prairie Lutheran Church in rural Decorah, attended rural country schools in the Decorah area, and graduated from Decorah High School in 1937.
August 31, 1939, she married Edward “Jim” Opfer at Washington Prairie Lutheran Church Parsonage. Marcie and Jim took over the operation of the Opfer home farm in Ludlow Township in rural Waukon, where they operated a dairy herd of registered Brown Swiss Cattle and raised hogs, beef cattle and crops. In 1972, they moved to Waukon and Marcie worked as a cook at Waukon High School until she retired.
She was a member of Zalmona Presbyterian Church, where she was active in the Sarah Circle and United Presbyterian Women. Marcie was also active with Ludlow Township Homemakers and Veterans Memorial Hospital Auxiliary. She enjoyed spending time with her family, dancing, playing euchre, traveling, reading, working in her flower garden and embroidery work, making many pillow cases for family and friends.
Survivors include her daughters, Sheryl (John) Prestemon of Waukon and Linda (Jerry) Beck of New Port Richey, FL; a daughter-in-law, Cynda Opfer of Prairie du Chien, WI; four grandchildren: Becky Gesing of Waukon, Brad (Kari) Prestemon of Northfield, MN, Shari Prestemon of Eden Prairie, MN and Troy (Kim) Beck of Land o’ Lakes, FL; 10 great-grandchildren; and seven great-great-grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Edward “Jim”, in 2005; a son, Robert Opfer; a daughter, Brenda Turteltaub; a grandson-in-law, Merlin Gesing; a great-grandson, Ethan Gesing; and four brothers and six sisters and their spouses.
Honorary casketbearers were Brad Prestemon, Troy Beck, Scott Lang and Ron Opfer. Casketbearers were Vaughn Gesing, Ethan and John Palmer, and Luther, Lars and John Prestemon.
Online condolences may be left at www.martinfunerals.com.
