Anderson Funeral Home
Homeserving families for over 70 years
312 South Stone St.
Augusta, WI 54722
715-286-2222
Opal Markham
Opal A. Markham, 86, of Augusta, passed away peacefully on Wednesday evening, March 9, 2016 at the Augusta Area Nursing Home.
Opal Audrey, daughter of Walter and Violet (Buros) Haldeman was born June 22, 1929 in Norwalk, Wisconsin. She attended Spring Valley Country School and Salem Evangelical Church, both near Norwalk. In 1941 she moved with her family to Augusta where she graduated from Augusta High School in 1947. She went on to attend Eau Claire Vocation School where she was enrolled in business classes. She was encouraged to take a Civil Service exam which led to her job as a secretary at Eau Claire Teachers College. During her vacations while working, she enjoyed her travels with friends throughout the United States.
Opal was united in marriage to Wayne Markham on May 6, 1955 in Augusta. The couple lived on Lake Eau Claire before moving to rural Augusta in 1960 when they purchased the Randy Wilkinson farm. In addition to raising her 2 children, Opal worked along side her family on the farm where they grew crops for the heifers they raised to sell. She was an active member of the United Methodist Church in Augusta; helping with the Women’s Fellowship, working 19 years as church secretary, playing the piano for the men’s choir known as the Red Ties and also playing when ever needed for church services. She had also served many years as secretary on the Augusta Cemetery Board. Opal worked hard all of her life with never a complaining moment but also enjoyed having fun. She loved playing the piano, square dancing, quilting and entering her quilts in various competitions, snowmobiling and camping throughout Wisconsin with family and friends. Her love for her family goes without saying and anyone who she came in contact with was certainly blessed. She was a beautiful soul both inside and outwardly.
Opal will be dearly missed by her son David and Barbara Markham of Augusta; daughter Debby and Gerard Montez of West St. Paul, MN; 4 grandchildren, Tawnee and Trenton Berg of Augusta, Casey and Andrea Montez, Delaynie Montez all of West St. Paul, Joshua Markham of rural Osseo; great grandson “baby” Jack Markham Montez; brother Dean Haldeman of Augusta and his sons, Chuck and Tim Haldeman and their families; other relatives and many friends.
Opal was preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Violet; and husband Wayne on Nov. 11, 1998.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 12, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Augusta, with Pastor Lon Jury officiating. Burial will be in the West Lawn Cemetery in Augusta.
Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m on Friday at the Anderson Funeral Home in Augusta, and one hour prior to services Saturday at the church.
