Dale Opheim, 71, of Emmetsburg, passed away on September 29, 2025 on the farm. Funeral services will be 10:30 am Monday October 6, 2025 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Emmetsburg, with burial in Evergreen Cemetery in Emmetsburg. Visitation will be 3-6 pm Sunday at the Martin-Mattice Funeral Home in Emmetsburg. Dale’s services will be live streamed and available https://www.hdezwebcast.com/show/dale-opheim
Dale Carlyle Opheim, the son of Glenn and Margaret (Koekenhoff) Opheim, was born on June 14, 1954 in Emmetsburg. In 1972 he graduated from Emmetsburg High School. Dale then graduated from Iowa Central Community College in 1973 with an Associate’s Degree in Agronomy and Ag Business. On April 20, 1974 he was united in marriage with LuAnn Kruse in Germantown, Iowa. Dale soon began farming and started a family east of Graettinger, where he and LuAnn lived the majority of their years together. He also owned and managed farms in Brazil and has many cherished memories and friends from his time there. He was a lifelong entrepreneur with two patents to his name; he was always looking for new opportunities.
Dale always enjoyed playing Euchre, taking a good nap, traveling to Brazil, and being with family. Dale had a soft spot for his granddaughters and enjoyed calling his older granddaughters often to check in and traveling to Mount Vernon to visit and attend the girls’ activities. He also enjoyed sitting in his chair with his younger granddaughters to watch Bugs Bunny, taking naps together, having ice cream and bringing them lollipops when he stopped by. He also enjoyed traveling and playing mini golf with the family (and occasionally winning). Dale was forever a farmer with a daily routine to check the early farm news and markets, checking fields and stopping in for coffee at his usual spots. He had also become especially chatty on the phone in his later years, checking in with his favorite people often on all things farming. He’ll being remembered for being precocious and quick-witted.
Left to cherish Dale’s memory is his wife of 51 years, LuAnn; children, Jennifer (Loren) Hoffman of Mount Vernon, Scott (Heather Beirne) Opheim of Pompano Beach, FL and Aaron (Ana) Opheim of Emmetsburg; grandchildren, Ryley, Anna and Emma Hoffman and Isabella, Susana and a baby girl Opheim on the way; a sister, Barb Wempen of Algona; and a sister-in-law, Debbie Opheim of Cylinder. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Gene Opheim; and a nephew, Austin Opheim.
Memorials may be made in Dale’s name and directed to Bethany Lutheran Church or Mayo Clinic Cancer Research.
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