Ina W. Opheim, 85, of Eau Claire, died Monday, April 27th at Reflections at Dove Healthcare-West. Ina lived with Alzheimer's disease for several years. She was born to the late Harry and Clara Wilsmann Nov. 18, 1929, in Two Rivers, Wisconsin. After high school Ina went on to receive a BS in Physical Education and English from the University of Wisconsin-Lacrosse in 1952 where she was a member of the Alpha Phi Pi and Gamma Delta Sororities. She married Laurence Opheim in 1955 at Point Beach State Park in Two Rivers. They lived in La Crosse before relocating to Eau Claire in 1957 where they raised their two children, Sandy and Steve. In both high school and college, Ina was active in both band and water ballet. She played flute with the La Crosse college band, and in 1951 marched in the Cigar Bowl in Tampa, Florida. She was president, student director and performer for the Aquacade Swim Club. Ina's career as a teacher took her to several schools in Wisconsin and Iowa before she began teaching physical education at Regis High School in Eau Claire until she retired in 1985. At Regis she also coached the cheerleaders and ran the girls intramural athletic association. Her biggest accomplishment came when she pioneered the first Girls' Athletic Association, coaching and taking girls' teams to competitions at other schools eventually leading to the girls' WISAA conference. She was very proud of the amazing athletes she coached while at Regis. She and Larry loved to travel and spent retirement winters in Florida or Arizona. They enjoyed cruises in the Caribbean, Norway, South America and Alaska where they were joined by their children and grandchildren. She still enjoyed swimming until her health declined, and competed in senior swim meets in Florida. Ina was an avid bridge player and enjoyed playing in the same bridge club with friends she met when moving to Eau Claire. During her playing days, "she didn't lose, she just had bad cards". Her competitive nature reached beyond her own talents to her favorite sports teams, the Packers, Badgers and Brewers. Even the weather didn't keep Ina and Larry from the famous Ice Bowl in 1965. On the waiting list since 1955, she and Larry were eventually awarded Packer season tickets in 1995. They loved tailgating at Lambeau and started following the team to one away game a year. To know her is to love her baking, a skill she passed on to her son, Steve. She was always in the kitchen trying something new or tried and true and sharing those goodies with friends and family. Ina will be missed by her husband of 60 years, Larry, who faithfully loved and cared for her at home until a year ago. She will be forever remembered in the hearts her children Sandy and Steve. Sandy and her husband Bob Hersperger live in Woodbury, Minnesota. Ina loved being grandma to Dan of Maplewood, Minnesota and Amy also of Woodbury. She loved her time with both of them and the summer vacations they spent in Eau Claire. Steve and his wife Sharon will miss her visits to their home in Killen, Alabama where Ina still holds the record bluegill caught off their dock. Her sister-in-law, Gin Van Vuren, also of Eau Claire, who helped Larry with her daily care while still at home also survives her. Ina was a special lady and will be dearly missed by her nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her in-laws, Laurence and Agnes Opheim, her brother, Jerome and his wife Lucille, and also by her sister-in-law, Betty and her husband John. Ina's family would like to thank the nurses and caregivers at Reflections at Dove Healthcare-West for the excellent care and love afforded Ina this past year. The family will be making donations to the Alzheimer's Association of Greater Wisconsin, The Eau Claire Humane Society, and The Friends of Point Beach State Forest. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, May 1, 2015, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, 322 Fulton St. in Eau Claire with Father George Thayilkuzhithottu officiating. Visitation will be held Thursday, April 30, 2015, from 4 to 6 p.m., at Lenmark-Gomsrud-Linn Funeral Home, 814 First Ave. in Eau Claire, and also one hour prior to the Mass on Friday at the church. Entombment will be in the Calvary Cemetery and Mausoleum in Eau Claire.

Service Information

Cemetery

Resurrection Chapel Mausoleum 2894 South Hastings Way Eau Claire WI 54701

Visitation

Thursday, April 30 2015 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Lenmark-Gomsrud-Linn Funeral & Cremation Services 814 First Avenue Eau Claire WI 54703

Mass of Christian Burial

Friday, May 1 2015 10:30 AM

St. Patrick's Catholic Church 322 Fulton Street Eau Claire WI 54703