Ellen A. Opie

Ellen Areta (Radel) Opie, 89, died unexpectedly and peacefully in her home at Scottish Rite Park in Des Moines on Sunday, August 8, 2021. Born February 26, 1932 in Nauvoo, Illinois to Ellsworth and Mary Ellen Radel, she was the third of four of children. Ellen was raised on a farm and went to Nauvoo/Colusa High School where she was a straight-A student and cheerleader. She met her future husband, Richard Opie in high school. They were married June 3, 1951 and moved to Kansas where Dick was stationed in the Army.

After Dick left the military, they moved back to Iowa where they lived in Burlington, Fairfield, Knoxville and ultimately Des Moines. Ellen sold real estate, worked in family-owned retail stores, volunteered at her church, and in the resale store at Scottish Rite Park.

Belovedly known as “Gram” by her grandchildren, Ellen never turned down an offer to spend time with her grandkids. Together they enjoyed baking countless cookies, playing outside in the snow, and any other silly games they could invent.

Ellen was selfless. She cared about her family more than anything else in the world. Her life revolved around making sure her family was happy and she did exactly that.

A sweet, positive person with a twinkle in her eye and bright smile, Ellen will be dearly missed by her friends and family. She is survived by her brother, John Radel; children, Beverly Opie Ortland (Henry), David Opie (LeeAnne), and Douglas Opie (Sara); grandchildren, Alexis Opie Johnson; Nick, Elizabeth and Jimmie Opie; Amanda Campbell Ortland (Bertram Beissel von Gymnich) and Christian Ortland, and Ross Opie; great grandchildren, Lucas and Eliot Beissel von Gymnich and Wrenley Johnson. Ellen was preceded in death by her husband, Dick and infant son, Richard.

Visitation will be from 9:30-11 a.m. on Friday, August 13, 2021 at St. Mark Lutheran Church in West Des Moines. Services to remember Ellen will be held at 11 a.m. at St. Mark with burial at Resthaven Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made St. Mark Lutheran Church.