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IN LOVING MEMORY OF
Opal M.
Bowmaster
February 21, 1920 – August 14, 2016
Obituary
Opal May Renner Bowmaster, 96, of Lincoln, formerly from Seward, passed away peacefully on August 14, 2016. Opal was born on February 21, 1920 on the family farm outside of Battle Creek, NE to Fred and Luella (Green) Renner. Opal attended a one-room schoolhouse until she was in 8th grade. She graduated from Battle Creek High School in the spring of 1938 and began teaching at a one-room school that fall. She attended Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln, Nebraska in 1941-1942. She joined the Willard Sorority, starting a family tradition which has continued for three generations. At Wesleyan, she met her husband Ralph J. (Bugs, Bow) Bowmaster. They were married on July 26, 1942 in Corpus Christi, Texas, one of the places where Ralph was stationed during WWII. After the war, they moved back to Lincoln and lived there from 1945 to 1950 before moving to Seward, Nebraska where they raised their four children. When the youngest child started school, Opal went back to Nebraska Wesleyan to obtain her B.S. Degree in Elementary Education. While attending Wesleyan, Opal was inducted into Kappa Delta Pi Education Honorary and Phi Kappa Phi Academic Honorary. She graduated from Wesleyan in 1963 and started her teaching career with Seward Public Schools. Opal taught 4th and 6th grades before becoming the elementary school librarian. She touched many lives and retired from teaching in 1983.
Opal was a member of the Seward United Methodist Church for 66 years and was active in United Methodist Women, Tri-C's, and Bible Study. Opal also was a member of Yellow and Brown Ties, Wise Old Willards, Willard Alumni Association, and the Wesleyan Alumni Association. In 1989, she and Ralph received the Nebraska Wesleyan University's Medal of Honor Distinguished Alumni Award. Opal was very involved in the Seward community including P.E.O., Busy Hour, Blue Valley Quilters Guild, Magazine Club, Bridge Clubs, Extension Club, and Seward Retired Teachers Association.
Opal and Ralph loved to travel, enjoying many family camping trips visiting all 50 states and a number of foreign countries. Opal enjoyed watching the sports her husband coached. She attended many Nebraska athletic events, including Nebraska football games until she was in her late 80s.
Opal loved her family and set a fine example for them with her strong faith in the Lord, her dedication to her church, and her devotion to education.
Opal is survived by her children and spouses, Kay and Regy Green, Steve and Judy Krueger, Becky Bowmaster all of Lincoln, Ron Bowmaster and Cec Brady of Salt Lake City, UT; grandchildren, Alison and Larry Lueders, Bennington, NE; Trent and Mary Lou Green, Portland, OR; Travis and Shauna Green, Jason and Megan Krueger, Kelly Krueger all of Lincoln; Vanessa Bowmaster Hubbell and David Hubbell, Garett Bowmaster and Sydney Johnson, all of Omaha; great-grandchildren: Joshua, Katelyn, and Kyle Lueders, Bennington, NE, Sophia and Abigail Green, Portland, OR, Miley and Everett Green, Jack and Claire Krueger all of Lincoln. Many Bowmaster and Renner nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews survive her.
The family would like to thank the compassionate staff at Tabitha Martha House in Lincoln for taking excellent care of Opal.
Funeral services will be held 10:30 am on Thursday, August 18, 2016 at the United Methodist Church Seward, Nebraska with arrangements entrusted to Zabka Funeral Home, Seward.
Visitation will be from 10:00 am to 8:30 pm on Wednesday, August 17, 2016 at Zabka Funeral Home. Family will be present from 6:30 to 8:00 pm.
Burial will be at Lincoln Memorial Park
,
6800 S 14th St. Lincoln, NE, on August 18th at 2:30 pm.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to:
Nebraska Wesleyan University Bowmaster Scholarship Fund, 5000 St. Paul Ave., Lincoln, NE 68504
Coach Ralph Bowmaster All Seasons Scholarship Fund, Seward High School, 532 Northern Heights Dr. Seward, Ne 68434 or Seward United Methodist Church, 1400 N. 5th St. Seward, Ne 68434
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Opal M. Bowmaster, please visit our flower store.
Services
Funeral Service
August
18
Seward United Methodist Church
Starts at 10:30 am
Graveside Services and Interment
August
18
Lincoln Memorial Park Cemetery
Starts at 2:30 pm
Opal M. Bowmaster's Guestbook
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