News: Granton Sr. Citizens Honored (1982)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Opelt, Crockett, Garbisch, Gerber, Rosandich, Quicker, Carstenson, Helm, Marg

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 9/16/1982

Granton Sr. Citizens Honored (1982)

Members of the Granton Senior Citizens organization took an active role in the recent Granton Fall Festival. Max and Irene Opelt were honored by the group and were selected to ride in a 1923 Dodge in the fest’s parade on Sunday. The auto was driven by Reuben Garbisch.

Max and Irene (Crockett) Opelt lived in the Neillsville area until 1947 when they bought the Fred Gerber home south of Granton on U.S. 10. They raised two children, adopted three more and served as foster parents for 20 others. Their children are Mrs. Tom (Arlene) Rosandich and Jerry, who married Faye Quicker. Their adopted sons are John, Douglas who married Joyce Garbisch and Michael who married Judy Carstenson. They also have twelve grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

After the family left home, Max and Irene worked as aides at the Norwood Health Center in Marshfield for 5 1/2 years. In 1969, they retired, sold their rural home and moved into the Village of Granton. They are members of the Granton United Methodist Church.

The couple were also charter members of the Granton Senior Citizens Club with Max serving as its first vice-president in 1972; he later served as president.

(Present officers of the club are Henry Helm, president; Max Opelt, vice president; Agnes Marg, secretary; Elmer Marg, treasurer.)