Charles "Charlie" I. Opitz

Charlie Opitz devoted his life to the Church, and each day he tried his hardest to live up to his Lord's proud example. He loved to share the Word with his family, friends, and congregations, and his faith was an inspiration to many. Charlie never lost focus on the many blessings in his life, and each day he rejoiced with thanksgiving. The year 1915 marked a time of uncertainty for America and the rest of the world. With the assassination of the Archduke in Sarajevo, the Great War had exploded through Europe. Touting the phrase "Remember the Lusitania," President Wilson sided with the Allied Forces and joined the war effort. Amid this uncertainty, Leon Opitz and his wife Aimee Reimann maintained their optimistic spirits by focusing on the blessings in their life together. On September 15, 1915 they welcomed their son Charles into their home in the Detroit area. Two years prior to his birth, Charles' father emigrated from Germany at the age of sixteen. The family had some link to German royalty. Upon arriving in Michigan, he began working at Hudson Motors spraying finish on cars. He also worked on the farm that his mother-in-law owned. Charles' mother worked for Reliable Linen sewing uniforms and other garments. As a child, Charles loved to play baseball and ping pong. He rarely had free time. He had to work hard on the family farm. They had five acres of raspberries (20 rows, 1500 ft. long) that they sold to commercial company in Detroit. They had 25 pickers and the kids could earn money by picking (2 cents per quart). There were four horses, several cows, chickens (whose eggs were sold in Detroit ), geese, and turkeys. Charles had to clean up a lot of manure. He was so busy with chores before his high school years. Charles played on the Old Olympian Hockey Team as a forward. In the year 1931, at the age of sixteen, he graduated from Cass Tech High School in Detroit with the ambition to become a civil engineer. He left the farm and began working for an ambulance company as a driver and for Essex Wire Works. After he saved enough money, he headed off for college. In 1938 he graduated from Moody Bible Institute in Chicago at age twenty-three with a degree in pastoral training. While at Kewaden Bible Conference in Port Huron, Michigan, he met Gladys Marie Krafft. He sold a Bible to her sister, Edna, in order to get a chance to meet Gladys. He borrowed his pastor's car to take her on their first date and they ended up having to take the two pastors' kids along! In 1941 Gladys and Charlie were married in his parents' home. They had a garden reception at Gladys' Aunt Minnie's house. This was the beginning of a wonderful marriage that would last 65 years. Charlie and Gladys were very compatible. They both felt called to full-time ministry to serve God with all their hearts. They both were willing to live by faith. They started out with no money and both were committed to praying about their needs without telling anyone. God answered their prayers in countless miraculous ways - sometimes by people sending them money for the exact amount they needed, sometimes by bringing food or coal to heat the house right when they needed it. Sometimes it was by having just enough left over to buy needed clothing. God always supplied their needs. Charlie had very definite ideas that strict parenting was what would please God the most. But he and Gladys did their best to raise their kids to know Scripture and what it meant. They taught the kids that serving God was of ultimate importance. Pleasing God in all aspects of life was most important to Charlie. There were regular daily family devotions. He took personal time to pray and read the Bible for himself and then took the necessary time to study the Bible and prepare for sermons. He took time to make many Christmas and birthday gifts for his children because there wasn't much money. Charlie's first began to explore his spirituality in his late teenage years. His younger brother, Stanley, was killed and this got him thinking about the meaning of his life. Then he got in a car wreck and it scared him. About the same time, an evangelist friend named Jim Calhoun convinced him to go to Moody Bible Institute. Soon after his marriage, he became and ordained minister which was his second greatest achievement in life next to committing to his lifetime relationship with Gladys. Charlie took the greatest leap of faith by planting a church in Frederic, Michigan with no money and no financial support - knowing God would continually supply. He helped build life back into a dying church in Chelsea, Iowa. He planted another church in Ocqueoc, and other places including: Hills Corner, Michigan, Marysville, Michigan, Plymouth, Indiana, Riley Creek, Ohio, Mokena, Illinois. Then they moved near Buffalo, New York to Odesagah, Bible Conference where he was director. Since he was twenty-five years old, Charlie's life revolved around the Church. He was involved in a variety of activities of church life. In addition to preaching, he formed youth groups, directed Vacation Bible School, led Bible study groups, and spent time with other pastors. Much of his time, however, was committed to calling on families in the community because his passion was evangelism. Early in ministry, Charlie and Gladys would join other pastors and their wives to pick apples, which was one of the ways they earned money. To make it fun, the couples would race each other and have fun making this a "competition". Charlie loved to travel. His kids remember how he was on a drive-by mission to see as much of the U.S.A. as he could in two weeks. The family took summer vacations together. The children looked forward to visiting with their grandparents. Family games were great fun. Charlie taught the kids to play sports, ping pong and to swim. He and Gladys took two trips to Israel to "walk where Jesus walked" and a vacation to Hawaii - which were some of the highlights of their travels. Charlie never fully retired. At the age of 75, he and Gladys moved to Grand Haven, Michigan and he continued to help churches out when needed. They held services in the local nursing homes, taught Sunday school classes and Bible Study classes in church until just a few years ago. In addition, they gardened and did yard work together which included caring for raspberry bushes, a favorite love of Charlie's from childhood. He enjoyed playing Chess with a good friend on a regular basis. Charlie and Gladys have developed a very supportive network of friendships in their church, Lakeshore Baptist Church, where they have continued to serve in the capacity of teaching Bible studies. Charlie will be greatly missed by his family and friends throughout the United States. Since he fell asleep into the arms of Jesus, he has now regained his smile in heaven. Charles died on May 21, 2006 at a local nursing home. Survivors include his wife of 65 years, Gladys; 3 sons, David (Eleanor) Opitz of Grand Haven, Larry (Mary Lea) Opitz of Minnesota, Tim (Beth) Opitz of Illinois; daughter Linda (Bob) Bever of Colorado; 9 grandchildren, Jon (Kristi) Opitz, Joy (Ryan) Walker, Michele Benoit (Opitz), Heather and Amy Opitz, Christi (Terry) Carter, Austin Bever, Tim Opitz and Mallory Opitz; 4 great grandchildren, Sheldon Opitz, Grace Walker, Katy Carter and Emily Carter. Sister, Edith Raley of Rochester Hills, MI; brother, Jack (Zada) Opitz of Libertyville, IL. Mr. Opitz was preceded in death by a brother, Stanley Opitz and sister, Dorothy Van Order. Please visit Charlie's personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can archive a favorite memory, sign the guestbook, or post a memorial contribution.