LeRoy Ophaug, 87, of Albert Lea

Published 12:00 am Thursday, February 9, 2006

Funeral services for LeRoy Henry Ophaug, age 87, will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 10, at Salem Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. The Rev. Jay Dahlvang will officiate. Visitation will be at the church from noon until services begin. Internment will be at Lakewood cemetery following the service.

Lee passed away peacefully Tuesday evening at the St. Cloud Hospital with his beloved Jeanette and Kari at his side, losing a long battle with lung disease.

Lee was born on Nov. 7, 1918, in Kloten, N.D., to Esten and Mabel (Boyd) Ophaug. His family moved to Albert Lea in 1920. He was a life-long member of Salem Lutheran Church. Lee attended Ramsey school and graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1936. During high school he worked as a newsboy and jogger for the Tribune. He worked as a bookkeeper for Stevenson’s Ready-to-Wear until joining the Army Air Force in 1942.

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After four months of Armament School at Buckley Field, Colorado Lee was stationed for three years in England where he was attached to the 63rd Fighter Group, better known as Zemke’s Wolf Pack. They fought in many campaigns, including the Battle of the Bulge and the Normandy invasion. They won many awards including two Presidential citations, Lee was well-known for personalizing his squadron’s fighter planes using his artistic talents.

On April 12, 1946, Lee married Jeanette Folie. Lee worked at Sullivan Paint, Universal Co-op and in 1956 joined Church Offset Printing as an accountant. In 1960 Lee became co-owner and president until his retirement in 1984. Lee was an active member of his church including being a past-president, and was very active in his community including the YMCA, the Y’s-Men Club, Kiwanis, Albert Lea Country Club and a lifelong member of the VFW and the American Legion.

Lee enjoyed his artwork and has left his family with many precious heirlooms. He loved playing golf, playing bridge with the “gang,” and hunting and fishing, especially with his son Randy.

Throughout Lee’s extended illness, he never lost his sense of humor, his courage or his love of life. Lee was grateful to all the people who surrounded him with love and great care, especially his devoted wife, Jeanette.

Lee is survived by Jeanette, his wife of 60 years; children; Randy and Charlotte (Holian) Ophaug of Santa Maria, Calif., William and Nancy (Ophaug) Beers of Albert Lea, and Eric and Kari (Ophaug) Johnson of Sartell; grandchildren: Andrew and Aaron Ophaug, Benjamin, Maxwell and Holly, and Jenika Beers and Chloe, Gretta and Genevieve Johnson; special “daughter” Martha Sichko; brother Elvem Ophaug of Tampa, Fla.; brother-in-law Stanley and Pinkie Folie of Bloomington; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Cora and Mille and brother Orville,

God bless his memory. He was loved.