Opal Fortkamp

Opal Fortkamp
Opal Caroline (Gestring) Fortkamp, daughter of Otto and Minnie (Alsleben) Gestring, was born March 1, 1916 at Cowles, Nebraska. She was baptized April 9, 1916, by Rev. C.F. Schrein at Salem Lutheran Church near Cowles and confirmed April 2, 1933, by Rev. Fred Elze at Immanuel Lutheran Church near Champion. She left Webster County with her parents and brother in 1925, moving to Sharon Springs, KS. The family moved near Champion in 1932 and to the Wauneta area in 1933. She received her education in Webster County, NE, Sharon Springs, KS, Imperial, and Wauneta. In later years she continued her education at Chadron State College and received her bachelor of Science in Education degree. She taught in various area elementary schools for 22 years and was Chase County Superintendent for 14 years, retiring in1990.
On December 17, 1939, she married Emil H. Fortkamp at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church on the South Divide. Six Children were born to this union.
Opal and Emil first lived south of Wauneta and moved to the Champion Valley in 1941. She enjoyed gardening, raising chickens, needlepoint, quilting and traveling with friends. She was a member of Zion Lutheran Church of Imperial, and was active in Willing Workers until her health began to fail. She and Emil moved to Imperial Heights in January of 2004 and after Emil passed away two weeks later, she moved to the Imperial Manor.
Opal passed away early Wednesday Morning, April 27th, 2011, at the Imperial Manor Nursing Home, Imperial. She was 95 years of age.
Opal was preceded in death by a stillborn son in 1940, infant son Leon, in 1944, father Otto in 1967, daughter Marla in 1981, mother; Minnie in 1985, and husband, Emil in 2004.
Those left to morn her passing are: Son: Neil and wife, Jo, of Omaha, NE Son: Lynn and wife, Joyce of Champion, NE Son: Stan and wife, Susan, of Lincoln, NE 8 Grandchildren: Brian Barjenbruch of Omaha, Scott Fortkamp of Chicago IL, Mark Fortkamp and wife, Lea, of New Lennox, IL, Jerel Fortkamp and wife, Mary, of Imperial, Deven Fortkamp of Salina, KS, Kelen Fortkamp and wife, Elizabeth, of Imperial, Allison Fortkamp of Lincoln, Michael Fortkamp of Lincoln
Brother; Victor Gestring of Imperial; brothers-In-Law: Martin and wife, Erma Fortkamp of McCook, Art Fortkamp and wife, Nina, of Wauneta; Sister-In-Law: Violet Long of Wauneta, many other relatives and friends Funeral Services were held Saturday afternoon, April 30th, 2011, 2:00 P.M. at the Zion Lutheran Church of Imperial, with Pastor David Kahle officiating. Interment will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery, Imperial.
Memorials have been established to the Imperial Public Library or to Zion Lutheran church
LIEWER FUNERAL HOME IN CHARGE OFARRANGEMENTS