grave import

Obituary

Carol Ruth Shaw Oppenheimer, 79, of Burlington, died at 7:35 p.m. Wednesday, May 6, 2009, at Great River Hospice House in West Burlington. Born August 31, 1929, in Burlington, she was the daughter of William Douglas Shaw and Eunice Caroline Sourwine Shaw. On August 5, 1950, she married Richard Frank Oppenheimer in Burlington. Mrs. Oppenheimer taught elementary grades in schools in Grandview, MO, Fort Madison, Burlington, Emmetsburg, and Algona for more than 38 years, and she had a permanent professional Iowa certification. She attended Concordia Grade School and Horace Mann Junior High School. She was a 1947 graduate of Burlington High School, and a 1949 graduate of Burlington Junior College. She had a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Iowa Wesleyan College in Mount Pleasant, and a Master of Arts Degree from the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, where she did post-graduate work in Educational Administration. She was a past member of Grace United Methodist Church in Burlington, and a current member of SS John and Paul Catholic Church in Burlington. She also was an active member in the Des Moines County Retired School Personnel Association, and the Southeastern Community College Alumni Association where she held various offices. She was a member of the National Education and the Iowa State Education and was a past member of PHI Delta Kappa Society. She served five years on the original Des Moines County's Two-Mile Zoning and Planning Commission, followed by serving on the five-member Ordinance Board of Directors. She was volunteer chairman for five years at the Hawkeye Log Cabin in Crapo Park while serving as a member of the Des Moines County Historical Society. Carol was a member and officer of numerous lineage societies where her interest in the family genealogy of her ancestors: they are Stars and Stripes Chapter, National and State Society, Daughters of the American Revolution, National and State Society Dames of the Court of Honor, National and State Society Daughters of the War of 1812, Continental Society and State Society Daughters of Indian Wars, National and State Society Daughters of Colonial Wars, National and State Huguenot Society, National Society Magna Charta Dames and Barons, the Sovereign of the Colonial Order to the Crown Descendants of Emperor Charlemagne, and the Daughters of Union Veteran of Civil War, Cecilia White Tent. She often gave programs to her PEO Chapter NI, Questers, Antiquer's No. 284, and lineage society groups in Burlington, Mount Pleasant, and Iowa City, about her antique collections and current interests. She enjoyed bridge and pinochle clubs, family genealogy searches, music, reading, computer creations and organizing family and BHS class reunions. Survivors include her husband; two daughters, Joanna Morgan of Coralville and Janette Burkhart of Belvidere, IL; two sons, Jon Douglas Oppenheimer of Burlington, and Jeff Richard Oppenheimer of Emmetsburg; four granddaughters and one grand- son; two step-granddaughters; and two step-grandsons; eight great-grandchildren; one brother, Eugene D. Shaw of Hingham, Mass.; nieces; and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents. Visitation will be from noon to 8 p.m. today at Hass-Thielen Funeral Home, where family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. The funeral Liturgy Outside of Mass for Mrs. Oppenheimer will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, with the Rev. Patrick J. Hilgendorf officiating. Burial will be in Aspen Grove Cemetery. A memorial has been established for the Burlington Public Library, Children's Department.