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Opal E. Olingy

Opal Emily Olingy (nee Getman) age 93, died peacefully on January 10, 2015 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Chippewa Falls, WI. Opal was born on October 8, 1921 in Hixton, WI, the daughter of Paul and Ruth (Fox) Getman. She was raised in Hixton where she attended elementary school and high school. On June 2, 1941 she was united in marriage to LaVerne Olingy in Hixton and that union was blessed with three children. After WWII they moved to Park Falls, WI where Opal worked for many years at the Park Falls State Bank while LaVerne taught music at the Park Falls High School for 21 years.

In the years following, they lived in Hawaii where they worked side by side managing a high-rise apartment building near Waikiki, Honolulu. While there, Opal entered the real estate market buying properties to rent. After returning to Wisconsin, they owned a drive in restaurant in Sauk City, WI for one summer and then purchased their own Montgomery Ward mail order stores in Park Falls and Viroqua, WI. Wanting to live in warm weather, they moved to Florida where they managed large apartment complexes. They retired there and after LaVerne died in 1992, Opal moved from Florida to Lake Delton, WI and then eventually to Sauk City/Prairie du Sac, WI. The last year of her life she lived in Hudson, WI and at the VA Home in Chippewa Falls, WI.

Opal enjoyed reading the daily newspaper and books, discussing current events, traveling, watching old time movies on TV and playing cards, especially bridge and solitaire. The many friends she made over the years were very important to her and she enjoyed sending special occasion cards and long letters written by hand to friends and family. Opal was the family historian and had an extensive knowledge of the family tree. In addition, she had a great love for the dogs she owned throughout her lifetime and spent many hours taking her last dog, Rex, for long walks on the trails at Devil’s Lake State Park. She also liked feeding the birds and the squirrels. Wherever she lived, she took great pride in having a nice lawn and flowers and was talented at making them always look beautiful.

Opal is survived by her children Nancy Blake of Hudson, Sally Hein of Sauk City, Paul Olingy (Drew Bizzaro) of Anaheim, CA; grandchildren Andrea Norris, Allison (Daniel) von Siebenthal, Bradley Blake, Todd (Kris) Hein, Rev. Troy (Trina) Hein, Tanya (Matthew) Snyder; great grandchildren Joseph, Benjamin, Michael, Rachel, Hannah, Brittany, Tyson, Titus, Tyrone and Grant. She was preceded in death by her parents, an infant brother, husband LaVerne Olingy, sons-in-law Thomas Blake, Rodger Hein; grandson Bryan Blake; and grandson-in-law David Norris.

Opal will be buried alongside her husband at the Trinity Rest Cemetery in Hixton.