Funeral Services Set For Opal Jean Classen

Funeral services for Opal Jean Classen, age 90 of Orchard, Nebraska, will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, July 25, 2014, at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Orchard. Pastor Marcel Kohlmeyer will officiate, with burial in the Tilden City Cemetery at Tilden, Nebraska.

Visitation will be Thursday, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Orchard, with a 7:00 p.m. Prayer Service.

Brockhaus-Harlan Funeral Home of Tilden is in charge of arrangements.

Opal Jean Classen died Sunday, July 20, 2014, at Alegent Health Hospital in Plainview, Nebraska.

Opal Jean Classen, daughter of Charles and Bertha (Berhens) Verplank, was born February 25, 1924, at Elgin, Nebraska. Jean attended rural school near the family home in the Tilden area. On February 10, 1942, she was married to Jack Classen at Pierce, Nebraska. The couple was blessed with nine children: Diana, Connie, Jackie, Angie, Lynette, Dan, Brad, Kelly Jo, and Jeff. Jean and Jack began their married life in Tilden, then after Jack returned from serving his country in the United States Air Force during World War II, the young couple moved to Brunswick, Nebraska. From Brunswick, the Classen family moved to a farm place north of Tilden, and then into Tilden. In 1956, Jean and Jack moved their family to Orchard, Nebraska, which is where the couple made their home until 2009, when in July of that year, Jean became a resident of the Plainview Manor in Plainview, Nebraska. Jack remained in the family home until his sudden passing as a result of a car accident on October 22, 2009.

Jean was a member of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Orchard and the Ladies Aid. She also was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary Post #36 of Orchard. During her lifetime, Jean had many interests and hobbies. Besides being the quintessential American homemaker, wife, and mother, she loved gardening and caring for her houseplants, and avidly collected many Avon rings. Jean had an incredible love for baking, baking pies for the café in Orchard for many years, and made the best cinnamon rolls around. When the kids were growing up, Wednesday was cinnamon roll baking day in the Classen home, and because of her reputation for delicious rolls and Jean’s warm, motherly nature, there was always a house full of friends and school children partaking in fellowship and fine pastry. But Jean’s love for children went beyond cinnamon rolls; she unselfishly was willing to serve and care for anyone, and any child needing a little extra love and attention was welcomed with Jean’s motto: “there’s always room for one more”. Jean died Sunday, July 20, 2014, at Alegent Health-Plainview Hospital in Plainview, Nebraska, attaining the age of 90 years, four months, and 25 days. Her loving, caring, motherly ways will forever be cherished memories and dearly missed by all the lives she touched here on earth.

Jean is survived by her children, Diana McCarty of Gretna, Nebraska, Connie Classen of Lincoln, Nebraska, Jackie Auman of Norfolk, Nebraska, Angie (husband Mick) Vocelka of Bellevue, Nebraska, Lynette (husband Dave) O’Dey of Norfolk, Danny Classen of Lincoln, Kelly Jo Classen of Orchard, Nebraska, and Jeff Classen of Orchard; as well as many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and countless friends and extended family.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Jack Classen; son, Bradley Steve Classen; and granddaughter, Catharine Lynae.

---