- Date Of Birth: July 28, 1930
- Date Of Death: September 26, 2004
- State: Illinois
William A Oppold, 74, of Freeport, passed away Sunday, September 26, 2004, at FHN Memorial Hospital, after a courageous battle with cancer.
Born July 28, 1930 in Freeport he was the son of Albert and Clara (Schlamp) Oppold. He married Norma Jean Kosier on April 7, 1956 in Monroe, Wisconsin.
He served in the United States Army from 1946 to 1954 in the 82 nd Airborne Division and also in the 145th Infantry Regiment doing two tours of duty in Korea during the Korean Conflict.
For many years he farmed in the surrounding communities until 1975 when he founded Economy Excavating. In 1997 he sold the construction portion of Economy Excavating to Fischer Excavating.
He was instrumental in many community development projects and was always greatly interested in the future of Freeport.
William was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and a former member for many years at St. Catherine’s Church. He was also a member of the Eagle’s Club.
William had a kind heart for all animals and took a special interest in the Friends Forever Humane Society.
Surviving is his wife, Norma of Freeport; 7 children, Theresa (Lynn) Koch of Pearl City, Gloria (Stuart) McDowell of Wichita, Kansas, William J. (Deborah) Oppold of Freeport, Patricia (Allen) Lambert and Mary (James) Stites of Orangeville, Victoria Oppold and Wayne (Tina) Oppold of Freeport, 20 grandchildren; 7 great-grandchildren; 3 sisters, Lucille (Larry) Miller and Ann (Don) Diffenbaugh of Freeport, Mary (Larry) Shelly of Ridott; 3 brothers, Jim Baker, Harold Baker and Vern (Helen) Baker all of Freeport.
He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Bernice Moore, in 2002, an infant son, John and his brothers, Charles Oppold and Elmer Baker.
