Opal Marie Ihlenfeldt

Ihlenfeldt, Opal Marie OREGON/McALLEN, TEXAS-Opal Marie Ihlenfeldt died on Friday, Feb. 6, 2009, at the age of 92. She was born in Beloit, on Dec. 12, 1916, to Iva Morton Smith and James Nelson Smith. Opal resided in Madison for 21 years, attended Lincoln Grade School and graduated from Madison Central High School. She married Professor Stanley W. Ihlenfeldt on June 23, 1941 and had three children. After Opals marriage, she lived in Two Rivers, Neillsville, and Elkorn. W. T. Grants and Harry S. Manchester Department Store employed her, and she later was an administrative secretary for the Elkhorn Public School System. Upon retiring, Opal and her husband moved to McAllen, Texas, and spent summers in Hatfield and Oregon, Wis. She was active with the Oregon Senior Center, and enjoyed making quilts for R.S.V.P. of Dane County, reading, and baking "her special recipe" of chocolate chip cookies for family and friends. Opal is survived by her children, Lee R. (Mary) Ihlenfeldt, and Richard S. (Sandee) Ihlenfeldt; five grandchildren, Heather Ihlenfeldt, Jenn (Chad) Wachtl, Curtis (Katie) Ihlenfeldt, Mark (Becky) Ihlenfeldt, and Doug (Pam) Ihlenfeldt; a great-granddaughter, Samantha Ihlenfeldt, and two great-grandchildren on the way; and a brother, Paul Morton Smith of Madison. She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; a daughter, Ruth Marie Ihlenfeldt; sister, Gladys ODonnell Ekdahl; and brother, Milton Elmer Smith. Private services were held at Gunderson Stoughton Funeral Home. The family would like to thank Trusted Hands at Stoughton Hospital, and friends and neighbors for the excellent care giving which allowed her to stay in her home for many years. Additionally, we would like to express our appreciation to the staff of Nazareth House in Stoughton for the wonderful personal care she received while residing there. Gunderson Stoughton Funeral & Cremation CenterHwy. 51 North at Jackson St. (608) 873-4590 www.gundersonfh.com