Wavalene Opperman, 95, of New Knoxville, died 6:55 P.M. Monday, December 28, 2020, at Joint Township District Memorial Hospital.

She was born December 12, 1925, in Hopewell Twp., Mercer County, Ohio, the daughter of Willis and Beulah (Now) Bradford. She married Norman Kruse on December 1, 1945, and he preceded her in death in 1953. She married Myron Opperman, and he preceded her in death in 2014.

She is survived by her children: Judy (Jerry) Kuck of New Knoxville; Karen (Don) Smith of New Bremen; Bob (Deb) Kruse of New Knoxville; by her step-children: Steve (Linda) Opperman of Saint Marys; Karla (Mike) Curta of Aurora, Colorado. She is survived by 5 grandchildren; 4 great-grandchildren; 3 step-grandchildren; 8 step-great-grandchildren; by a brother, Paul Bradford of Wapakoneta; by two sisters-in-law: Evelyn Schneider of Botkins and Jeanne Opperman of Michigan.

Wavalene was a 1943 graduate of New Knoxville High School. She retired from Hoge Lumber Company, and had also been a school cook at New Knoxville School for many years. She was a member of the First Church of New Knoxville.

She loved traveling to Florida each year, playing cards, putting puzzles together, making afghans and painting pictures. She was well known for her delicious canned peaches and homemade noodles.

Private, family only funeral rites will be held 11:00 A.M. Saturday, January 2, 2020, at the First Church of New Knoxville, the Reverend Joel Bucklin, officiant. Burial will follow at Pilger Ruhe Cemetery.

All family members in attendance are required to wear a mask in accordance with the mandates of the Ohio Department of Health.

Vornholt-Miller Funeral Home, 200 West Spring Street, New Knoxville, is entrusted with Wavalene's funeral arrangements, and condolences may be sent to her family via Millerfuneralhomes.net.

Memorial gifts may be given to the Radio Broadcast Fund of the First Church of New Knoxville.