Norman Arthur Opelt

Madison -- Norman A. Opelt, age 93, passed away on Monday, June 8, 2009 at Sunny Hill Nursing Home.   He was born on December 6, 19 15 , the son of Arthur Max and Laura (Faber) Opelt in Lynn , Wisconsin .   Norm grew up on the family farm at Neillsville , Wisconsin .   As a freshman Norm became a charter member of the Future Farmers of America (FFA) at Neillsville High School .   While in high school, his dad bought him a beautiful horse, Tony, to ride to school.   They raced and won first place at the county fair. In 1933 Norm graduated from high school.   He attended the UW-Madison Agriculture Short Course and graduated in 1935.   He began working for Stoeber Farm Dairy in Middleton, where he milked the cows, bottled and delivered the milk.   In 1936 Norm started working for Consumer Coop Dairy.   He worked in the dairy plant and was also the relief driver.   In 1942 the Coop was bought out by Bowman Farm Dairy.   He worked at Bowman for 33 years, performing every task at one time or another.   For 14 years he was a one-man egg department, collecting eggs from the farmers, candling and grading the eggs back at Bowman's.   When the egg department closed he went back into the dairy plant until he became the laboratory technician.   In 1975 Norm left Bowman and became the lab technician at Madison Dairy Produce, a butter making facility, retiring in 1982. During his school years, Norm met the love of his live, Mary Ann Grzanna, at a community summer play.   On June 1, 19 37 , they were united in marriage.   Norm and Mary Ann each enjoyed many individual pursuits, but their greatest interest was the love and joy in raising their children and seeing the growth and accomplishments of their grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In 1947 Norm joined the Southside Men's Club, he was a past president and served on the board for many years.   While working as a dairy laboratory technician and long into his retirement he was a member of the Dairy Tech Association.   He enjoyed deer hunting, card playing, reading, bowling, gardening, and listening to music.   Until 2 years ago Norm mowed his own lawn and did most of the snow shoveling. Norm is survived by his loving wife of 72 years, Mary Ann Opelt of Madison; two sons, James Norman (Susan) Opelt of West Bend and Ronald Lee (Janice) Opelt of Madison; five grandchildren, Deborah (Donald) Clark of Columbus, GA, Laura (Greg) Giessen of West Bend, Kurtis (Jennifer) Opelt of Germantown, Katrina (fiance John Chandler) Opelt of Madison and Melinda Opelt of Madison; four great-grandchildren, Samuel and Becca Giessen and James and Steve Clark; and a half brother, Floyd (Melecia) Opelt of Bella Vista, AK.   He was preceded in death by his parents and an infant granddaughter, Marcia Lee Opelt A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at OUR LADY QUEEN OF PEACE CATHOLIC CHURCH, 401 S. Owen Dr. on Saturday, June 13, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. with Father Todd Van Natta officiating.   A visitation will be held at the church on Saturday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the mass.   Burial will be held at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery . Memorials may be made in memory of Norman to:   Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church, 401 S. Owen Dr. , Madison , WI 53705 or to Wisconsin Council for the Blind, 754 Williamson St. , Madison , WI 53703 .   The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff at Sunny Hill Nursing Home for all their excellent care given to Norm.