George W. Opperman

Funeral Services were held Wednesday, June 24, 2015 at the River of Life United Methodist church in Beloit, WI. George was born August 23, 1922 to the late Emil and Mabel (Dietz) Opperman of Manning, Iowa. George lived a long and eventful life. He graduated from Manning High School in 1938 and was the first in his family to seek higher education, doing so at Iowa State College. His college career was interrupted by World War II when he entered the service in 1943. George served in an army field artillery unit, including one year of service in the Philippines. George was a first lieutenant when he was discharged at the end of the war. George married May Thomas on June 17, 1944. Upon graduation from college in 1947 with a degree in dairy science, George and May moved to Beloit, Wis. where he was editor of the Brown Swiss Bulletin. After three years the couple moved back to Manning, Iowa where they would operate the family farm for the next 30 years. George was a progressive farmer, implementing many technologies on the farm that were advanced for the time, including farrowing stalls, a milking parlor, field contours, alternative soybean row spacings and more. George also developed a prize-winning herd of Brown Swiss cattle. While on the farm George was active in the Brown Swiss Cattle Breeders Association, serving as national president in 1968. George's leadership in the dairy industry helped establish many important programs still in place today, such as milk pricing, animal identification and performance recording systems. For his contribution to the dairy industry George received the Pioneer Award from the National Dairy Shrine in 2012. While in Manning, George actively served his community as a member of the Manning High School Board of Education as well as other community organizations. He and May were also lay leaders in the Manning First United Methodist Church. George also pursued a political career, running unsuccessfully for U.S. House of Representatives and the Iowa State Senate in the late 1970's. In 1981 George and May left the farm in Manning and moved back to Beloit where George served as Executive Secretary of the Brown Swiss Cattle Breeders Association. He held the position until 1987 when he moved on to the U.S. Dairy Export Council. In this role George helped to develop markets for U.S. dairy cattle and genetics around the world. For his work he received an award of appreciation from the USDA Foreign Agriculture Service in 1990. Upon retirement George and May enjoyed traveling to see their children and grandchildren, and remained active supporters of Iowa State athletics. Throughout his time in Beloit George also remained active in the First United Methodist Church, serving in many leadership roles. George died on Saturday, June 20 at Alden Meadow Park in Clinton, WI at the age of 92 years.. He is preceded in death by his parents; son Douglas and grandson Brian. He is survived by his wife May Opperman of Beloit, WI; five children, Mary of Prineville, Oregon, Tom (Rose) of Norwalk, Iowa, Dave (Cynthia) of Iowa City, Iowa, Don of Seattle, Wash, and Mike (Kelly) of Fort Atkinson, WI; grandchildren include Melissa, Katie Oldes, Mariah Perry, Micah Perry, Maggie Opperman and Jack Opperman; three great-grandchildren; brothers Bill (Phyllis) and Ivan (Betty) of Manning, Iowa and sister, Jane (Dee) Kimberly of Boca Raton, Florida; other relatives and many friends.