Opal Elizabeth Swank, 92, of La Porte, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on Friday, July 24, 2020, at her daughter's home.
Opal was born on February 8, 1928, in Avon, SD, to Dave and Louisa (Berndt) Buchholz.
On August 30, 1975, in Kingsbury Baptist Church, she married Earl Wayne Swank, Sr. who preceded her in death on March 1, 2007. Surviving are her four daughters, Anita (Kenneth Parthun of Carlton, GA, Kayla Drane of Athens, GA, Denise (Van Tinkham) Shaw of Farrwest, UT, and Marjory (Bruce) Watson of La Porte, IN; 12 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; 5 great, great-grandchildren; sister, Ellen Schultz of Wessington Springs, SD; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded by her parents; husband; 3 sisters; and a brother.
Opal was self-employed as a beautician and also worked at Howmet for 14 years. She was a member and deaconess of Kingsbury Baptist Church and a member of the Farm Bureau. Opal had a love for traveling. Her favorite memories were of camping on an island in Canada with Earl surrounded only by nature. Opal was an avid gardener raising vegetables and flowers. She loved to can her vegetables and taught her daughters and granddaughter, Jesica, to carry on the tradition.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 6 p.m. on Thursday, July 30, 2020, at Cutler Funeral Home and Cremation Center with Pastor Ronald Brauer officiating.
A time of visitation will be held from 4 p.m. until the time of the service on Thursday at the funeral home.
Cremation will follow the service. Burial will take place at Kingsbury Cemetery at a later date.
Memorial donations may be made to Dunes Hospice, 4711 Evans Avenue, Valparaiso, IN 46383 or The Gideons International Processing Center, PO Box 97251, Washington, DC 20090-7251.
Condolences may be shared with the family on www.cutlercares.com.
