Laurence E. "Larry" Opheim

Laurence Opheim Laurence E. (Larry) Opheim, 88, of Eau Claire died Saturday, August 20, 2016 at the age of 88 at Eau Claire’s Mayo Hospital. He was born on August 31, 1927 to Laurence and Agnes (Ruhe) Opheim. Larry attended Sacred Heart grade school and graduated from St. Patrick’s (now Regis) High School in 1945. He was a veteran of World War II serving in the U.S. Air Force in the south Pacific on Johnston Island as a Message Center Chief. After the service, Larry attended college and graduated in 1951 from the University of Minnesota with a degree in Industrial Relations and Personnel Management. He married Ina W. Wilsmann of Two Rivers, Wisconsin at St. Luke’s Catholic Church in Two Rivers, Wisconsin on June 11, 1955. They lived in La Crosse, Wisconsin before relocating to Eau Claire in 1957 where these raised their two children, Sandy and Steve. Larry was employed as a Personnel Assistant at National Presto Industries for several years and then went to work for the State of Wisconsin, first with the Wisconsin State Employment Service as a counselor, and then as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor. He was a Counselor for ten years before becoming its Eau Claire District Supervisor for the next 25 years and retiring in 1989. In this lengthy career Larry worked helping handicapped people get training and education to allow these individuals to gain employment. He received many citations and awards from various organizations and associations for his work with the handicapped. He also helped start the Career Development Center in Eau Claire and the Vocational Development Center at the University of Wisconsin – Stout. Larry liked bowling, playing softball and working in his yard and garden. Later in life, he and Ina loved to travel and spent many winter retirement years in Florida or Arizona. They enjoyed cruises in the Caribbean, Norway, South America and Alaska. Larry and Ina were avid sports fans, following the Packers, Badgers and Brewers. Even the weather didn’t keep them from the famous Ice Bowl of 1965. They were eventually awarded Packer season tickets after 40 years on the waiting list. He will be forever remembered by his children, Sandy (Bob) Hersperger, of Woodbury, Minnesota and Steve (Sharon) Opheim of Killen, Alabama. Larry was a loving grandpa to Dan Hersperger, Maplewood, Minnesota and Amy (Justin) Schneider, also of Woodbury, Minnesota. He will be dearly missed by his sister, Virginia Van Vuren, also of Eau Claire, as well as by his nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends especially his table mates at Orchard Hills Assisted Living where he has resided for the past year. Larry was preceded in death by his parents, in-laws and by his sister and brother-in-law, Betty and John Sonderegger. He lost his wife, Ina of 60 years in 2015 to Alzheimer’s disease. The family will be making memorials to Larry’s favorite organizations and charities. Mass of Christian Burial will be help Wednesday, August 24, at 12 noon at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 416 N. Dewey St, Eau Claire. Visitation will take place from 10 am until the time of Mass at the church. Entombment will take place at Calvary Cemetery and Mausoleum in Eau Claire. Lenmark-Gomsrud-Linn Funeral Home, 814 First Ave, Eau Claire is serving the family. For online condolences, please visit www.lenmarkfh.com.

Service Information

Cemetery

Calvary Cemetery
4100 S Hastings Way
Eau Claire WI 54701

Visitation

Wednesday, August 24 2016
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Sacred Heart Catholic Church
North Dewey Street & Division Street
Eau Claire WI 54701

Mass of Christian Burial

Wednesday, August 24 2016
12:00 PM

Sacred Heart Catholic Church
North Dewey Street & Division Street
Eau Claire WI 54701