Marvin Allen Opfer
Opfer, Marvin A.
1 Apr 1941 - 13 Mar 2014
Marvin Allen Opfer was born April 1, 1941 on the family farm near
Hampton, Nebraska to Frederick and Ellen (Willcock) Opfer. He grew up on
the farm southeast of Arlington, Nebraska, and attended school at St.
Paul’s Lutheran Church before graduating from Arlington High School in
1958. Following high school, Marvin attended Midland Lutheran College.
As a young boy, Marvin was an avid baseball player, and began a lifelong
love of hunting and fishing.
Marvin married Glenyce Booze on September 12, 1959 at the First
Methodist Church in Fremont, Nebraska, and to this union, three children
were born: Scott, Michael, and Tommie. The family made their home in
Fremont, before moving to Millard in 1969. They lived in Millard until
moving to their cabin on the Elkhorn River in Washington County in 1995.
When his health declined the past three years, Marvin and Glenyce moved
to Woodbridge Senior Apartments in Omaha.
Marvin spent 28 years working for Western Electric/AT&T until retiring
due to his health in 1987. He held numerous jobs and positions in his
time there, working his way up to foreman. He still enjoyed playing
baseball while in Fremont for the Fremont Merchants, and later was
active as a coach, including for his sons, and commissioner of the
Millard Athletic Association. He was a member of the Millard VFW Post
#8334, and the IBEW. He loved cheering for the Huskers, mostly while
listening to the games on the radio, and enjoyed country music from
artists like Charlie Pride and Merle Haggard, while drinking a plain
label beer.
Marvin suffered a brain aneurysm below his brain stem in 1987 that he
barely survived, caused him to retire from work, and led to a steady
decline in his health through the years. Through it all, he never
complained about pain, and was determined to live his life to the
fullest for as long as he could. He was still able to go deer, pheasant
and mushroom hunting, camping, and traveling with Glenyce in their motor
home. He had a great voice, and loved to sing karaoke, and was known
around their Millard neighborhood for picking up cans. He was a hard
worker, who was always tinkering with something at the cabin. He held
strong beliefs, and a strong faith. Marvin was a very patient man who
could be ornery and frugal, but was also witty and fun-loving. He will
be remembered for his work ethic, and being a genuinely nice person.
Marvin passed away on Thursday, March 13, 2014 in Omaha, Nebraska at the
age of 72 years, 11 months, and 13 days. He was preceded in death by his
parents, and sister Audry. Marvin is survived by his wife, Glenyce of
Omaha, sons: Scott and wife, Deb of Lincoln, and Michael of Valley,
daughter Tommie Opfer-Gonzales of Omaha, grandchildren: Jessica, Joshua,
Zach, Tim, Frankie, Michael, Jon, and Makenzie, great grandchildren:
Mallory, Olivia, Jacob, and Jude, with one more on the way, brothers:
Mert of Kennard, NE, Larry of Lincoln, NE, and Dallas of Omaha, and
sisters: Janet and husband, Victor Romans of Oregon, and Beverly Opfer
of Omaha.
Marvin was preceded in death by parents Frederick & Ellen Opfer, and
sister Audry. Survived by wife, Glenyce of Omaha, sons: Scott and wife,
Deb of Lincoln, and Michael of Valley, daughter Tommie Opfer-Gonzales of
Omaha, 8 grandchildren, 4 great grandchildren, brothers: Mert of
Kennard, NE, Larry of Lincoln, NE, and Dallas of Omaha, sisters: Janet
and husband, Victor Romans of Oregon, and Beverly Opfer of Omaha.
Visitation: Monday Noon-8 with family receiving friends from 6-8 P.M. at
the funeral home.
Service: Tuesday, 11 A.M., St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Valley.
Interment: Private.
Memorials: To the Lutheran Family Services, Lutheran Disaster Response,
or the church, in lieu of flowers.
Marvin retired from the plant with twenty eight years of service.
Reichmuth Funeral Home
21901 West Maple
Omaha, NE 68002
402-289-2222
www.reichmuthfuneralhomes.com
