Kenneth Wayne Opperman

Kenneth Opperman Obituary

Name: Visitation for Kenneth Wayne Opperman
Start: 2025-08-03T15:00:00.000Z
End: 2025-08-03T17:00:00.000Z
Location: Cornerstone Church Memphis

Kenneth Wayne Opperman went home to be with the Lord Monday morning, July 28, after a long, hard fought battle with pancreatic cancer.

Born May 6, 1959, to Robert and Helen Opperman in East St. Louis, Illinois, Ken is survived by his beloved wife of 44 years, Beverly, son Eric Opperman, daughter Melissa Fancher, and grandsons Elijah and Nathan Fancher. He is also survived by his brother, Craig Opperman of Eugene, Oregon, and sister Ruth Crawford (fiancé Mark St. Eve), of Belleville, Illinois as well as niece Sarah Crawford and nephew Paul Crawford. Ken was also close to numerous cousins, especially Al and Kathy Hursey. In addition, he leaves countless friends close enough to feel like extended family.

A veteran of the transportation industry for more than 40 years, Ken worked for railroads, brokerages and truck lines for his career, culminating in eight years as the agent/owner of the Memphis terminal of Middle Bay Transportation.

In addition to his excellence at work, Ken found joy in countless other activities as well. He spent decades heavily involved in the Transportation Club of Memphis. He spent more than a decade as the play-by-play voice of Christian Brothers University basketball, and he spent even more years working in various game operations roles for Memphis Tiger basketball and football, the Memphis Grizzlies, Memphis Hustle and Memphis Redbirds, as well as Rhodes College and Bartlett HS.

As an early sign of his lifelong sports fandom, Ken won the Most School Spirit award at East St. Louis High School in 1977, and he carried that passion the rest of his life, both for his beloved Flyers football team as well as the St. Louis Cardinals, St. Louis Blues, Memphis Tigers and Memphis Grizzlies. In addition to being a sports fan, he was an avid golfer, playing for both East St. Louis and Blackburn College, and played softball as well.

Always generous with his time and resources, Ken never met a stranger and made fast friends. He also enjoyed music, attending countless concerts – most frequently Styx, and he enjoyed musicals, especially The Music Man.

But his true joy was his family. He cherished his children and especially his grandsons, who knew him as "Paw Paw".

Ken's celebration of life will be held at Cornerstone Church, 2385 Whitten Road, Memphis, TN 38133. Visitation from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., followed by the celebration service at 5 p.m., with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Herb Kosten Foundation to continue the fight against pancreatic cancer.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Daily Memphian on Jul. 30, 2025.

Memories and Condolences
for Kenneth Opperman

4 Entries

Warcester Williams

August 1, 2025

It is with heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and acquaintances of Opp that I submit my `Opp´ memory. We met in the sixth grade. He was one of the first people that approached me on my first day at Hawthorne Elementary. He was my first friend in this new school, and we remained close friends through our college years. He came to every football game and track meet providing encouragement and support through the good and bad seasons. We traveled to almost every high school basketball game together. He would play the drum solo on the steering wheel while drinking a McDonald´s orange Hi-C. We lost touch after college, but reunited in recent months. Opp was always a good friend to me, and I hope I was a good friend to him. Love you Opp. Your smile and laugh will be missed.

Emily Dresch

July 31, 2025

I enjoyed working along side Ken as a Client and Colleague for many years. He will be missed!

Craig Patton

July 30, 2025

Opp and I first met in Jr High and became friends from that point. I can remember playing basketball in his parents driveway on his goal attached to the garage (fun times). We maintained our friendship throughout high school. We would occasionally ride to away basketball games with a couple other friends (he drove because none of our parents would let us drive that far 1-2 hour drives :-) ). We lost touch after high school until a mutual classmate reconnected us all! My fondest memory however happened just a few weeks ago when his family and fellow co-workers through him a celebration and myself and two other friends surprised him by driving down from St. Louis and had several other friends reach out to him by phone while we were there. I will never forget the "surprised" look on his face and the feeling we all had! Rest in Peace dear friend! Until we meet again!

Al Hursey

July 30, 2025

Being friends from his birth this is tough. But I choose to remember the great things, so many. I will try to list a few of them quickly
As possible. College roommates, golf teammates, softball (ken was a great pitcher and good athlete), assisted in getting him started and hired in the industry, witnessing Bev and ken start dating and marriage, he lit the unity candle at my wedding to Kathy (fun pic), I assisted in him suggesting (funny story) his agency, we once bowled 5 games and had exactly the same total score, I enjoyed him answering the phone Kenneth Wayne Opperman and that is why he did it that way for me, the Wayne part of his name was from our Doctor Wayne Cox, Wayne Cox was Super fan in the STL area and was close to ken´s dad Bob, so it was not surprising that uncle Bob was a huge sports fan, thus ken was too, and Eric took this start to the next, highest level in sports. Ken and Eric have unreal concentration talent to do stats and running score board clocks at major college and professional sports events. I was proud of his business work ethic, and his total loyalty to Bev, and his kids, grand kids. I have hundreds of more events and stories. But most of all I will miss talking to him! He was a strong believer in Christ so I am confident he is just fine.

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