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- BIOGRAPHY:
http://www.genealogy.com/users/c/h/r/David-Alan-Christianson/FILE/0004text.txt
JOHN J. OPP John J. and Emelia Opp John J. Opp was born on July 5, 1901, the oldest son of 12 children of John D. Opp and Elizabeth (nee Neuharth), on the family farm 14 miles northeast of Eureka. Emelia Augustine (nee Lapp), the daughter of Johann Lapp and Augustine (nee Waesh), was born December 16, 1903, on the family farm southeast of Eureka. She was one of the younger of nine children. The couple was married on November 11, 1923 at the age of 22 and 20. A Lutheran minister, Rev. Schulz of Ashley performed the ceremony in the second story building in Eureka that was used for church services at the time. It was a double wedding ceremony, along with Henry G. Opp and Christine Nehlich. They all attended regular services and following the service both couples were married. The couple lived with his parents for about three weeks until the inside of their home was painted and completed. This farm was located about a half mile southwest of his parents farm. There they raised their family of three children and continued to live for the next 41 years. They started farming with six horses and seven cows. The first year they did not have a car and their only transportation was a one horse top buggy. They tell us it took a little better than an hour to make the trip of 13 miles to town. Their first child, a daughter, Wilma was born June 3, 1926 and their only son, Walter Henry, followed on August 20, 1930. Another daughter, Dorraine was born prematurely on December 28, 1931. Looking back there were many years of hard labor, drought, grasshoppers and illnesses, but through it all, they never lost faith in God. The family worshipped together regularly at the Glueckstahl Reformed Church during their life on the farm. During the dirty thirties we recall one summer with no crops here, Mr. Opp went threshing with a crew in North Dakota so that he could earn enough money for the winter's supply of coal and other bare necessities. The forties found times getting better with the exception of the war years. Son, Walter, served in the U. S. Marines. Their daughter, Wilma, was married to Orville Knapp on December 1, 1946 and they have two daughters, Marcia Kay and Sheila Ann, who was married to William Fred Hoffman on December 18, 1974. Daughter Dorraine was married to Earl Gruebele on July 25, 1954 and they have one daughter Karen May, employed at Fargo, North Dakota. Son, Walter, was united in marriage to Ora Raile on September 4, 1955 and their family includes four children, Greg married to Susan Pleinis, Gary employed at Java, South Dakota, Linda married to Kurt Lutz currently serving with the U. S. Air Force, and Stuart, a student at NDSU in Fargo, North Dakota. In September of 1964, because of health reasons, it became necessary to retire from active farming, and a farm auction was held, the buildings sold off the home place, and a new home was built in Eureka where they enjoyed their retirement years. Mr. Opp passed away at the Eureka Community Hospital on Tuesday, June 7, 1983, following a brief illness. Funeral services were held Saturday, June 11, 1983 at 10:30 a.m. at the Reformed Church of Eureka. He was 81 at the time of his passing. On June 28, 1983 Mrs. Opp entered the Lutheran Home where she continues to reside.
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1901 - 1983 (81 years)