Opal Boehm

MADISON Opal Marie Stentz  Boehm, age 86, died Thursday, July 16, 2009 at HospiceCare, Inc., in Fitchburg, WI. She was born Oct. 22, 1922, in Newry, S.C., to James Marion Petit and Gerda Maria Thor Petit. Opal grew up in Detroit, Mich., and the east shore suburbs. She graduated from Lake Shore High School in St. Claire Shores in 1939. While attending night classes at Detroit Technical College she worked for various industrial ""dollar-a-year"" executives all engaged in ""war effort"" work. She met James W. Stentz at Sunday evening church services on Dec. 7, 1941. They married on June 7, 1944, and lived in the Chicago, Ill., area where Mr. Stentz was a pilot for American Airlines. They had three children, Rick, Sandra and Deborah. Opal was widowed on Sept. 16, 1953. On Dec. 31, 1955, she married widower Edgar A. Boehm and adopted his children, Edgar, William, Adel and Roger. A daughter, Rebecca was born. In 1957 they moved to Three Lakes where they owned Boehm's Hardware Store. They lived on Big Fork Lake amidst towering Norway and white pines. Two more children, Peg and Bob were born. She worked in administration for the Three Lakes School District for 20 years. She served in her church and various community organizations in Three Lakes. She was also instrumental in the building of the Demmer Public Library in Three Lakes. She is survived by her 10 children, Edgar of Marshalltown, Iowa, William (Kay) of Three Lakes, Adel (Doss Mabe) of Los Angeles, Calif., Rick (Holly) of San Clemente, Calif., Roger (Annie) of Costa Mesa, Calif., Sandra (Tariq Osman) of Brooklyn, N.Y., Deborah (Oscar Daley) of Madison, Rebecca (David Shafer) of Decorah, Iowa, Peg (Rick Caiati) of Green Bay, and Bob (Sarah) of Bradford, Ill.; 15 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; a brother, Douglas T. Petit of Eagle River; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husbands, James W. Stentz and Edgar A. Boehm; beloved daughter, Ingrid; grandson, Scott; and great-grandchildren, Nathaniel and Hope. A Celebration of Opal's Life will be held at 12:30 p.m., Thursday, July 23, 2009, at OAKWOOD VILLAGE EAST CHAPEL, 5565 Tancho Drive, where friends may call from 11:30 a.m. until time of service. Retired Reverend Ron Mach will officiate. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the following: American Diabetes Association, Operation Iraq and Afghanistan, Wisconsin Public Radio or the Demmer Public Library in Three Lakes. Deep gratitude to the staff of D4/6 at UWHC, especially Dolly and Gretchen, Drs. Hanson, Siebers and Vogelman, and the Interventional Radiology Department, especially Drs. McDermott and Wojtowycz, and the staffs of Anderson Hospice and Oakwood Village East. Cress Funeral & Cremation Service 3325 E. Washington Ave. (608) 249-6666