Opal Laugesen Turner, 102 passed away peacefully on Sunday morning December 1st in Dubuque, Iowa.

A visitation for family and friends will be held from 9:30-10:45am at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Dubuque followed by a funeral service at 11:00am. The Egelhof, Siegert & Casper Funeral Home and Crematory, 2659 JFK Road is entrusted with arrangements.

Opal was born on October 3rd, 1922 in Burton, WI.  She was the eighth child of nine born to Dustin and Ocea Potter.  She married Lorraine Laugesen on April 19th, 1944 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Burton, Wisconsin.  Their early years of marriage were spent in Beetown, Wisconsin where they welcomed two daughters (Donna & Sandy) into their life.  They later moved to Dubuque, where they enjoyed a happy life in a picturesque river town.  After many years serving as his caregiver, Opal sat with Lorraine as he passed into eternity in 2003. She was united in marriage again in 2008 to Harlyn Turner who was also widowed after serving as caregiver for his wife Colleen. The two of them were great companions and were able to support one another through the grieving process of losing their spouses. They enjoyed traveling and experienced their first flight together as well as many new memories while living happily until Harlie’s passing in 2021.

Opal’s top priorities in life were faith and family.  She instilled those same values in her daughters from an early age. She was a most devoted wife, mother, and in later years grandmother and great-grandmother.  She had a very strong work ethic and relentlessly offered love and guidance to her family.  She was an expert seamstress and spent many hours creating beautiful clothing with her sewing machine.  Opal was gifted with an eye for detail and artistry, coloring black and white photographs with her oils, bringing memories of color into the world.  She spent her free time restoring their homes back to their original beauty.  Opal persevered without complaints and devoted her life entirely to the things and people she loved giving heart and soul to faith, home, and family.

Surviving are her two daughters, Sandra Koehler and Donna (Bob) Humke, grandsons Adam (Bridget) Koehler, Ben (Leah) Koehler, and five great grandchildren; Mackenzie & spouse Evan Lowther, Hudson, Griffin, Dexter, and Felix.

She was also preceded in death by her parents Ocea and Dustin Potter, siblings LaVern, Hazel, Lulu, Cecil, Clyde, Glenice, Dorothy, and Marilyn and Son-in-law Gary (Sandy) Koehler.

A Memorial fund has been established for Opal Laugesen Turner.

The family wishes to thank Dr. Moore and Dr. Whalen for their many years of care and concern. Eternal gratitude for the support from her special caregivers Angie Huntley, Ginger Deutmeyer, Jodie Legassick, Patty Humke Powers, Staff at Stone hill Care Center, and Hospice of Dubuque for making this portion of her journey more than an ending of a story.  Special thanks for visits, prayers, and support from Holy Trinity Lutheran Church and Nancy McGinnis.