Opal Jean Fish Kiesler, 92 of Sioux City, died Sunday, July 12, 2015 at a local care facility.
Service will be held 10:00am Wednesday, July 15, 2015 at the Waterbury Funeral Service, of Sioux City, with a 1:00pm burial in Belden, Nebraska. Visitation will be held Tuesday, July 14, 2015 from 4-8pm with family present from 5-7pm at Waterbury Funeral Service of Sioux City, 4125 Orleans Ave. Arrangements are under the direction of Waterbury Funeral Service of Sioux City.
Opal Jean Mitchell was born on September 27, 1922 near Randolph, Nebraska. Opal Jean was the youngest of seven children of John and Meda (Knapp) Mitchell. She attended rural school in Pierce and Cedar County near Belden, Nebraska. Opal Jean graduated from Belden High School in 1940 and attended Wayne State College earning a teaching certificate in 1941. She taught in Wayne County for one year and several years in Cedar County. She spent a short time in Washington, DC working in a department store before returning home to be united in marriage with Mr. Darrell Fish on June 1, 1947. To this union were born two sons, Dale W. Fish and Gary R. Fish. Darrell and Opal Jean farmed in Nebraska for four years before moving to Correctionville, Iowa in March 1951. Darrell and Opal Jean farmed for another 31 years near Cushing and Galva, Iowa until September 1982 when Darrell passed away unexpectedly as the result of a farm accident. Opal worked in home healthcare services and cared for her grandchildren for several years in Sioux City up to 2005. While in Sioux City, she married Mr. Burl Kieser in 1995 and continued to provide home nursing care to Burl until his death in 2005. Opal Jean entered Countryside Senior Living Center in July 2007, and resided there until her passing on July 12, 2015 at the age of 92.
Opal Jean was a compassionate wife, mother and grandmother providing love and support to her family. She had a quick wit, read the newspaper daily and always kept up with current events. Just ask her what was happening in Sioux City, and she would tell you. She was famous for clipping articles and sharing them with her family. She enjoyed Twins baseball, and was very caring toward the other residents and staff at Countryside Senior Living. She was fiercely independent, and never wanted to be a burden or inconvenience to anyone. She will be missed by all of us.
She is survived by her two sons and daughter-in-laws, Dale and Dorothy Fish of Sioux City, IA and Gary and Barb Fish of Brandon, SD and four grandchildren Scott Fish, Omaha, NE; Sarah Fish, Sioux City, IA; Taylor Fish (Maria), Eden Prairie, MN; and Bailey Fish, Brandon, SD.
Opal Jean was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Darrell and six siblings including Bert, Mae, Lloyd, Phil, Art and Ruth.