Memorials › Opal May Renner Bowmaster
Opal May Renner Bowmaster
21 Feb 1920 – 14 Aug 2016
| Birth | 21 Feb 1920 |
| Death | 14 Aug 2016 |
| Cemetery | Lincoln Memorial Park Lincoln , Lancaster County , Nebraska , USA |
| Added by | Evangelineღ on 18 Aug 2016 |
| FaG | https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/168622045 |
Bio
Opal May Renner Bowmaster, 96, of Lincoln, Nebraska, and formerly of Seward, Nebraska, passed away peacefully on Sunday, August 14, 2016. Opal was born on February 21, 1920 on the family farm outside of Battle Creek, Nebraska, the daughter of 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, Ron Bowmaster and Cec Brady; grandchildren; great-grandchildren; nieces; and nephews. Funeral services on Thursday, August 18, 2016 at the United Methodist Church Seward, Nebraska. Burial at Lincoln Memorial Park. Obituary information from Zabka Funeral Home of Seward, Nebraska.
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Family
Parents
Spouse
Siblings
- Mildred Marie Renner Reigle 1912–1983
- Loreen Frances Renner Olson 1914–2004
- Raymond Renner 1918–1918
- Willard William Renner 1921–1984
- Marvin Richard Renner 1923–2003
Children
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