Opal Gartzke

Opal was born October 16, 1911, at Verona Township, MN, the daughter of Ervin and Emma (King) Gartzke.She was raised and educated in Verona Township and Blue Earth where she was a 1930 graduate of Blue Earth High School. She earned her RN degree from Ancker Hospital in St. Paul in 1933 and began working at Gillette Children''s Hospital in St. Paul. She enlisted in the Army Nurses Corps during WW II and served from 1942 to 1945. She returned to Gillette Children''s Hospital where she was an RN all of her career. She was a member of the Red Cross, Ancker Nurses Alumi Association, St. Paul American Legion, Degree of Honor Star of the Union Chapter 11 in St. Paul, International Order of Good Templers in Minneapolis and was a longtime member of the Hope United Methodist Church in Blue Earth.Opal is survived by sister, Harriet Ehrich of Blue Earth, her nieces & nephews: Ione Weber of Cook, Joyce Sladek of LeCenter, Karen Osberg of Elmore, Audrey Bleess of Blue Earth, Barry Ehrich of Blue Earth, Kristy Johnson of Alden, Eileen Mensing of Cleveland, Duane Gartzke of Blue Earth and John Gartzke of Blue Earth.She was preceded in death by her parents, sister, Frances Gartzke, and brothers: Harold, Floyd, Roland & Vernon Gartzke.