Obit: Opelt, Russell James (1964- 2021)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Opelt, Burfeind, Hagen, Harder, Zschernitz, Thoma, Fitzmaurice, McDonough, Bird, Murphy, Miller, Huth, Stetzer, Voigt, Gardner, Knoop, Raine, Beibert

----Source: Gesche Funeral Home and Cremation (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 8/09/2021

Opelt, Russell James (3 August 1964 – 8 August 2021)

Russell Opelt, age 57, of Neillsville, died, in an accident, Sunday, August 8, 2021, in Willard.

Russell James Opelt was born on August 3, 1964, in Neillsville, the son of Kenneth and Ruth (Burfeind) Opelt. He attended St. John’s Grade School and Neillsville High School, becoming Neillsville’s first state wrestling champion in 1982. He graduated in 1983 and then began working for Bob Knoop at Knoop’s Tree Farm. Later, he went on to driving semi-truck for Steve Knoop in Neillsville and then McNulty Trucking in Black River Falls. On December 14, 1991, he was united in marriage to Jill Hagen at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Neillsville. Russell eventually began working for Mathy Construction, but always wanted to be home for his family so in 1999 he took a job with the Clark County Highway Department. He loved his job with the highway department and the people he worked with and took great pride in his work.

Russ was a member of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Neillsville and a former member of the Neillsville Men’s Club. He enjoyed camping, hunting for the “big” bucks and fishing, making maple syrup, picking berries and canning with Jill. He also loved the Green Bay Packers and watching their games with a group of friends on “Sunday Fun Day”. Most of all, though, he loved his wife and family more than anything in the world, and everything he did was for them.

He is survived by his wife, Jill, three children, Tony (Brianna) Opelt of Lewiston, MN, Kayla (Joe) Harder of Neillsville, and Chelsea Opelt of Neillsville, two grandchildren, which he loved and was so proud of, Lenora Opelt and Henry Harder, ten siblings, Steven (Pixie) Opelt, Eugene (Carol) Opelt both of Neillsville, Gayle (Becky) Opelt of Grants Pass, OR, Alan Opelt, Darlene (Joel) Zschernitz, Rollin (Gail) Opelt, his twin sister, Dawn (Greg) Thoma, Darla Fitzmaurice, Douglas (Lori) Opelt all of Neillsville, and Donna (Paul) McDonough of Plum City, two sisters-in-law, Sally (Jim) Bird and Donna Opelt both of Neillsville, his father-in-law and step-mother-in-law, Jesse (Loretta) Hagen of Neillsville and brothers-in-law, Tim (Tammy) Hagen of Neillsville, and Rick (Lisa) Hagen of Owings, MD.

He is preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Keith and Kevin, an infant brother, Glen, a brother-in-law, Gary Fitzmaurice and his mother-in-law, Patricia Hagen.

Russell was the kindest, most soft spoken, strongest “little” man out there that you will ever meet, and he was always willing to help anyone and everyone that needed assistance. He was loved by so many in our community and will be dearly missed.

Funeral Services for Russell will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, August 13, 2021, at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Neillsville. Pastor Timothy Biebert will officiate. Interment will be in the Neillsville City Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. Thursday, and the family has asked for a time for friends and relatives to share their stories of Russell beginning at 7:30 p.m. at the Gesche Funeral Home in Neillsville. Visitation will also be held from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. Friday at the church.

Honorary casket bearer is David Murphy. Casket bearers are Dennis Miller, Arnie Huth, Terry Stetzer, Tim Voigt, Jay Gardner, Steve Knoop and Joel Raine.

Online Condolences may be made at www.geschefh.com.  Gesche Funeral Home and Cremation Service is assisting Russell’s family with Funeral arrangements.

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