Opal Dorothy Thiele Jaspring was born April 9th, 1919, in Kansas City, Missouri and was adopted that same day by Gus & Lena (Kastens) Thiele of Syracuse. Gus & Lena were SO excited to finally have a child to make their family complete!

Opal lived with her parents on a farm south of Syracuse and attender Rural County School District #26. Opal could recall walking on snow over the fence posts to get to school!

Opal met Ralph Jaspring and fell in love. They were married December 20, 1938 at Luther Memorial Church in Syracuse. They soon started their own family Robert Dwayne was born on July 5th, 1940. several years later they had another son Norman Frederick, and then they finally got their girl, Janice Lea was born on August 27, 1947 and that completed their family.

Opal was so excited when she became a Grandmother Norman & Pat started their family with Michael Scott, then came Michele Renee and then Marci Lynette. Daughter Janice and her husband Hank became parents when Tony Leewas born and then came Tina Maria. Now to make the family complete, Mike and his wife Becky have Christina Louise, Rachel Leah, Brittany Elizabeth, Daniel Frederick, Michaela Renee and David Merle. And to join them, Tina and her husband, Mike have Cade Mikel and Taya Maria. And to complete the Great Grandkids, Marci and her husband, Scott have Casey Scott and Cody Allen. Opal loved her Great Grandchildren so much and enjoyed their many visits.

Opal was a hard working farmers wife farmers wife, raising a large garden, canning many jars of fruits and vegetables and meat. She helped with the 2,500 chikens they raised for eggs. She worked hard gathering, washing, weighing, sorting and packing eggs. And these were just a few of her tasks.

Opal was a very good Cook. She always has a wonderful meal on the table for her family at meal time. Many meals were eaten on the back of a pickup truck in the field. She was good at making everything stay hot so the men would have a hot meal in the field. She made a wonderful chocolate cake! And she kept up the Christmas tradition her Mother started, making oyster stew and pea Soup with dumplings for Christmas Eve!

Opal really enjoyed doing what the older generation calls "Handy Work". She embroidered many tea towels, pillow cases and dresser scarves. Her and her husband Ralph made many cross stitched quilts one for each child and Granchild with many extras. Opal also cross stitched a baby quilt for each of her Great Grandchildren, as well as a Christman stocking for each.

Opal also enjoyed meeting once a month with her Kastens' cousins for a day of cards, wonderful foods and conversation that was the only way you could hear all the family news! She always looked forward to Ladies Aid and attending her circle meetings she'd made such good friends there.

Opal also belonged to the American Legion Auxiliary here in Syracuse.

Opal and Ralph loved to go camping and fishing. Opal's father taught her to fish and she thoroughtly enjoyed it. Ralph and Opal's first camper was one you put on the back of you pickup, then they graduated to a small mini home, then to a larger one. They bought a boat and used it to fish, that is until the Grandkids came to the lake and then the boat was used to race around the lake sometimes with someone water skiing behind it, but mostly just going fast.

Opal enjoyed the trips that her and Ralph took in their airplane especially when it was to see the kids and Grankids. She also enjoyed traveling with her husband to the tractor pulls and rooting for her husband, son Norman and Granddaughter Marci and Grandsons Mike and Tony.

But the most important thing in Opal's life was always her family. Whether it was celebrating a birthday, an anniversary, the 4th of July, camping, tractor pulling or any other reason for getting together. Opal loved spending time with family, especially Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren. She really looked forward to the times that we brought the Grandkids up for her to hold and talk to and watch them play when she was in the Good Samaritan Home.

Opal led a long, full and productive life and these are only highlights and of couse can't begin to tell the whole story. For the "Rest of the Story" you'll have to visit with her family and friends.

Funeral Services for Opal, will be Thursday, July 29, 2010 at 2:00 P.M., at Luther Memorial Lutheran Church 1162 Mohawk, Syracuse, NE, with burial at Park Hill Cemetery, Syracuse, Nebraska.

Visitation will be Wednesday from 12 noon until 9 P.M. with family greeting friends from 7:00 P.M., until 8:00 P.M. all at the Funeral Home.