Edbert Opitz, 78, of Redfield, SD, died Tuesday, June 05, 2007 at Sanford Health in Sioux Falls, SD. Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday, June 8, 2007 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Bernard's Catholic Church in Redfield. Father William Osborn will celebrate the mass. Burial will be in St. Bernard's Cemetery with full military rites. Visitation will be Thursday from 1-8:00 p.m. with a rosary at 7:00 p.m. at Thelen Funeral Home. www.thelenfuneralhome.com

Ed was born September 11, 1928 in Roslyn, SD to Rudolph and Gertrude (Michlitsch) Opitz. He graduated from Sisseton High School and in 1961, South Dakota State University in Brookings. Ed married Jean Wisnewski on September 5, 1959 in Eden, SD. They lived in Faulkton for a few years while Ed taught school. In 1964, they moved to Clark and Ed worked for Farmer's Home Administration. He transferred with his job to Redfield in 1974 and the family moved to Redfield. He retired after several years with the Redfield office. Jean died in 1991. Ed continued living in Redfield and married Josie Shantz in 1993.

Ed enjoyed fishing, playing cards and tinkering and building many different things.

Ed is survived by his wife Josie Opitz of Redfield, one son Greg (Marilyn) Opitz of Omaha, NE; two daughters: Bev (David) McMahan of Redfield and Barb (Wayne) Shepherd of Las Vegas, NV and seven grandchildren: Allison, Elizabeth and Kathryn Opitz, Audree Demmers, Adam McMahan, Megan McMahan and Jessica Cooke. Ed is also survived by five great grandchildren, one brother Gerald (Olivia) Opitz of Roslyn, SD and two step daughters: Nancy (Larry) Johnson of Redfield and Joan Kegler of Redfield and numerous step grand and great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his first wife Jean.