Opal Elaine Kemnitz

Opal E. Kemnitz, 80, of rural Westmoreland, Kansas, passed away Friday, August 21, 2009 at Stormont-Vail Health Care of Topeka. Opal was born on her family farm near Westmoreland on July 6, 1929, the daughter of Lloyd E. and Violet F. (Morford) Whearty. She attended the Sales rural grade school and graduated from Westmoreland High School in 1947. She married Richard J. Kemnitz in Manhattan, Kansas on June 2, 1947. He preceded her in death on January 29, 2008. Following their marriage, they moved to the Lost Creek area near Belvue, Kansas where they lived until 1974, prior to moving to rural Westmoreland. Opal worked from 1974 for over 20 years at several fraternities and sororities at K.S.U. as their food service manager. She also worked as the head cook at USD 323 schools in Westmoreland. She was a longtime member of the Westmoreland United Methodist Church, served as a 4-H sewing project leader, and was very involved in the Vermillion, Lucky Leven, and Rock Creek 4-H Clubs. She was active in the Red Hat Society, Konza Quilt Guild, Women’s Willing Worker’s and Ladies Aid Group, both of Belvue, the Wamego Senior Center, and was also very active in the Westmoreland and Flush Senior Citizens Group. Survivors include her children: Dennis Kemnitz and his wife Dianna, of Westmoreland, KS, Wayne Kemnitz, Manhattan, KS; Ruth Wiltz, of Topeka, KS, Mary Tully and her husband Peter, of Manhattan, KS, Elaine Wilson and her husband Dennis, of Wamego, KS; one sister, Norma Hunter, of Manhattan, KS; 17 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by three sons in infancy: David, Gary, and Kenneth, and three brothers: Daryl, Lyle and Dale Whearty. Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, August 26, 2009 at the Westmoreland United Methodist Church. Burial will follow in the Jenkins/Admantha Cemetery south of Westmoreland. Visitation will be held at 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesday evening at Stewart Funeral Home of Wamego. Mrs. Kemnitz will lie in-state at the funeral home beginning at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday. Memorials are suggested to the Opal E. Kemnitz Educational Scholarship Fund and may be left in care of the funeral home.