Joel W. Opat

CLEAR LAKE - Joel W. Opat, 43, of Clear Lake died Saturday (October 30, 2010) at St. Marys Hospital in Rochester, MN.

Funeral services will be held 10:30 A.M., Wednesday at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Lourdes with Fr. Ray Atwood officiating. Burial will be in Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 3 to 6 P.M., Tuesday at Conway Funeral Home in Cresco with a Scriptural Wake service at 3 P.M. Visitation will continue one hour prior to services at the church.

Memorials may be directed to the Joel Opat Memorial Fund. Cataldo Funeral Home in Garner is in charge of arrangements.

Joel Wesley Opat, the son of Wesley and Dolores (Ludwig) Opat, was born January 31, 1967 at Rochester, MN. At the time of birth he was baptized and confirmed at St. Marys Hospital in Rochester. At the age of four he attended Abner Hendrickson School in Decorah and was taught by Luther College students. Joel's parents were substitute bus drivers for the Howard Winneshiek School district and drove Joel forty-four miles to Decorah for his schooling. Joel was a Cub Scout and later a Boy Scout in Decorah. He graduated from John Roberts High School in Decorah in 1988. Joel lived on a farm with his parents near Davis Corners until he became a resident of Opportunity Village in Clear Lake. Joel had two favorite passions in life, Elvis Presley and elephants. He enjoyed pizza, motorcycles and frequent visits at his mother's home.

Joel is survived by his mother, Dolores Opat-Ludwig of Clear Lake; three brothers and a sister, Leslie Opat, Sr. of Lime Springs, Matthew Opat and his wife, Therese, of Chatfield, MN, Elizabeth Wiger and her husband, Clark, of Decorah and John Opat and his wife, Peggi, of Rochester, MN; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father, Wesley J. Opat in 2001; a nephew, Christopher W. Opat who was killed in Iraq, June 15, 2010; paternal grandparents, John and Elsie Opat; and maternal grandparents, Matthew and Genevieve Ludwig.