Opal Hargens

Opal Lois, daughter of Gerhard William Christopher Brockman and Martha Alvina Rosalie (Koepke) Brockman, was born October 22, 1921 south of Westside in Carroll County, Iowa. She graduated from Westside High School in 1938. On December 4, 1941 Opal was united in marriage with Dewey Hargens at Koontz Memorial Lutheran Church in Omaha, Nebraska. Three children were born to this union. She was a homemaker on their farm in Carroll County and worked as a hired housekeeper for a time. Opal and Dewey owned and operated The Chicken Inn Bar & Grill in Halbur from April 17, 1978 to October 1 1983. People came from all over to enjoy her beer-battered fried chicken and the community enjoyed her daily luncheon specials. The couple moved to Manning in 2005 after living on the same farm north of Manning for over 50 years. Opal was a lifetime member of Zion Lutheran Church in Arcadia and active in their Ladies Aid group. She was also a member of the Arcadia Cemetery Association. Due to their sponsorship of the Chicken Inn slow pitch softball team, Dewey and Opal were inducted into the Carroll County 16" Softball Hall of Fame as super fans'. Opal enjoyed old time country music, hymns and polkas and playing the piano, organ and accordion for the enjoyment of others. She also enjoyed dancing and playing cards with friends, neighbors and family members. Opal's family was blessed with gifts of her crocheting and embroidery projects which she enjoyed doing until macular degeneration took her vision. Opal's husband died November 17, 2009. When her own health began to fail, Opal became a resident of the Manning Plaza Nursing Home where she died on Saturday, October 4, 2014 at the age of 92 years, 11 months and 12 days. Preceding Opal in death are her parents; husband; sisters Arlene (Leroy, Sr.) Kaspersen and Alice (Leonard) Beckman and brother Marlyn Brockman. Opal is survived by two sons Dennis (Sandy) Hargens of Des Moines and Dean (Beth) Hargens of Solon; daughter Janis (David) Benton of Rio Rancho, NM; six grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; sister-in-law Mary Brockman of Carroll; many other relatives and friends.