Opal A. Sienknecht

Opal A. Sienknecht, 96, of Cedar Falls, died Wednesday, September 13, 2017, at NewAldaya Lifescapes in Cedar Falls.  She was born December 23, 1920 in rural Gladbrook, Iowa, the daughter of Oren and Effie (Houghton) Swartz.  Opal married Gaylord N. Stauffer on March 3, 1941 in Kansas City, Missouri.  He went missing in action in 1944 over Borneo during WW II.  She married Arlo F. Sienknecht on August 25, 1948 in Niagara Falls, New York.  He died in 2003.  Opal was a 1938 graduate of Gladbrook High School.  She and her husband Arlo owned and managed their Farm and Supply store in Garner, Iowa for many years until retirement.  Opal was active in both Lincoln and Garner as a scout master, youth leader, Sunday School teacher, choir member and Sweet Adelines.  She was an exceptional bowler and golfer, and taught knitting, needle work and sewing.

Opal is survived by her two sons, Gaylord T. Stauffer of Cedar Falls and Richard (Mag Young) Stauffer of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; two grandchildren, Jodi (Bill) Murray of Wanatchee, Washington and Jay Stauffer of Portland, Oregon; three great grandchildren, Alex, Matthew and Jessica Murray, all of Wanatchee; former daughter-in-law, Marlene Stauffer, of West Lynn, Oregon, and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; both husbands; her sister, Eva Barger, and her brother, William Swartz.

Graveside services will be 10:00 a.m. Thursday, June 21, 2018, at Badger Hill Cemetery near Gladbrook.  A memorial fund will be established.  Condolences may be left at www.DahlFuneralHome.com.