William J. Vopalensky

The funeral for William J. "Bud" Vopalensky, 78, of North Bend will be 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Charles Catholic Church in North Bend. He died Friday, Dec. 26, 2003, at A.J. Merrick Manor in Fremont.

Vopalensky was born Jan. 10, 1925, in Morse Bluff. He grew up in rural Morse Bluff and was a graduate of North Bend High School. He married Juanita Tharp on June 6, 1946, in Fremont. He farmed the family farm near Morse Bluff all his working life until retiring and moving to North Bend in Oct. 1988. He was an agent and director for Farmer's Mutual United Insurance Co. and was an agent for Farmer's Mutual Hail Insurance Co. of Des Moines.

He was a member of St. Charles Catholic Church, a life member of Knights of Columbus Council No. 3736, a former member of St. George Catholic Church in Morse Bluff and previously served as a trustee and served on the building committee when the church was built. He served nine years on the Morse Bluff District 14 School Board and for many years on the Morse Bluff Dike and Drainage District. He was a 45-year member of Morse Bluff Volunteer Fire Department.

Survivors include: his wife; a son, Don Vopalensky of McKinney, Tex.; two daughters, Nancy (Mrs. Morris) Kisling of Cortland and Peggy (Mrs. Edwin) Nelson of Luzerne, Iowa; a sister, Betty Melcher of Fremont; eight grandchildren, Durayne, Dawn, Paul, Cory and Chris Ebbers and Tammy, Shawna and Brandon Nelson; two step grandchildren, Dale and Ronda Kisling; two great-grandchildren, Cameron and Faith Ebbers; three step great-grandchildren, Sophia, Olivia and Timothy Kisling.

He was preceded in death by his parents, William "Bill" and Ludmila "Lillie" Vopalensky and a son-in-law, Gary Ebbers.

The Rev. Roland Peschel will officiate Tuesday's service. A public vigil service with a rosary led by Knights of Columbus will be at 7 p.m. Monday at Moser Memorial Chapel in North Bend. Visitation will be from 12-9 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Pallbearers will be Durayne, Paul, Cory and Chris Ebbers, Brandon Nelson, Bill Melcher and Charles Vopalensky. Burial will be in Killian Cemetery, west of Morse Bluff.

Memorials have been established to North Bend Rescue Squad, North Bend Senior Center, Morse Bluff Fire Department and St. Charles Catholic Church in North Bend. Moser Memorial Chapel in North Bend is in charge of arrangements.