Dolores G. Opat-Ludwig

Dolores G. Opat-Ludwig, 87, of Clear Lake passed away Sunday, Jan. 30, 2022, at Evans Memorial Home in Cresco, Iowa.

  A memorial mass was held on Friday, Feb. 4, at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, in Lourdes, Iowa, with Rev. Fr. Jerry Kopacek officiating.  Burial was in the church cemetery.

  In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the donor’s charity of choice in memory of Dolores.

  Dolores Genevieve Opat-Ludwig, the daughter of Matthew and Genevieve (Bilek) Ludwig, was born May 6, 1934, in Elma, Iowa.  She attended Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School and graduated from Immaculate Conception High School, in Elma, in 1951.  

On June 29, 1951, she was married to Wesley Opat at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, in Elma.  They lived on farms near Elma and Lime Springs, Iowa, in Howard County where they raised their family for 40 years.  

Dolores was employed at the hospital in Cresco and at St. Marys Hospital, in Rochester, as an emergency medical tech.  In 1998, she moved to Clear Lake.  Dolores also did home care in Clear Lake for several people over the years.  

She enjoyed sewing and quilting.

  She was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church, in Clear Lake, where she belonged to a Bible study group.

  Dolores is survived by her children, Leslie Opat, of Lime Springs, Matthew (Therese) Opat, of Chatfield, Minn., and Liz (Clark) Wiger, also of Chatfield; daughter-in-law, Peggi Opat, of Rochester, Minn.; 11 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren;  sister, Marcella Gebel, of Mason City; and many nieces and nephews.

  She was preceded in death by her parents; son, Joel Opat, in 2010; her son, John Opat, in 2015; former husband, Wesley, in 2001; a grandson, Christopher Opat, in 2010; brother, Alphonsus Ludwig; and sister, Genevieve Grover.   

Cataldo Funeral Home, Garner, was in charge of arrangements.