Deacon Milton Carlos Opper

 Deacon Milton C. "Milt" Opper, 102, of Sandusky, passed away peacefully early Tuesday evening, September 26, 2017, surrounded by his family at his home that he had built in 1960..
   Born on April 19, 1915, in Vickery, OH the son of Charles and Flossie (Hooker) Opper.  He was a 1934 graduate of Townsend Centralized High School.  Milt retired in December 1974 from the Sandusky Foundry, where he had worked in production control for 20 years.  Prior to that he had worked for 17 years at Apex Electric, in Sandusky.  He enjoyed traveling with his wife Laurene. They traveled all over the United States, Mexico and Canada with Oregon and Washington being the only two states they did not make it to.
   In 1978, after completing three years of study at the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart Seminary in Shelby and Holy Spirit Seminary in Toledo,  Milt became the first ordained Deacon with the Diocese of Toledo, in Sandusky.  Prior to that in 1960, Milt joined the St. Vincent de Paul Society and in 1965 he started his hospital ministry, which he did for 25 years, of visiting the sick in hospitals and nursing homes, as well as, the shut ins, delivering them Holy Communion.  He was also the Chaplain for the YMCA Senior Fellowship Group since 1982.  He was known to be a  "Hugger," he would hug anyone and everyone that he met, but he will be especially remembered by many, for his daily greeting to The Lord, which went like this,  he would say, "Good morning, Jesus, what can I do for you today? How can I be your hands and voice today?"
   Milt was a member and ministered at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, where he had been on the School and Church, Building and Grounds Committee since the 1970's. He was a member of the 3rd Degree of the Knights of Columbus (over 50 years), the Holy Name Society for many years,  the Legion of Mary, the Cursillo Group (since 1967) and was a former member of the Moose Club and the Eagles Club.
   He is survived by his daughter, Beverly Ann (Jack) Savage of Columbus; daughter-in-law, Judy Opper of Sandusky; 9 grandchildren, Lori (Thomas) Jimenez, Kim (Mark) Howard, Cheryl (Dan) Vassallo, Nicole (Vince) Cooper, Bob (Erin) Biehl, Sandra (Jerry) Ulibarri, Melissa (Andy) Mitrey, Shana (Scott) Tackett and Cyndi Copper;  23 great-grandchildren; and 23 great-great-grandchildren.
   Milt was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 65 years,  Laurene A. (Kessler) Opper (June 19, 2002), whom he married on November 25, 1937 at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church; and his son, Richard C. Opper (June 24, 2017); and a great-granddaughter, Ally Vassallo (2000).
 "THIS IS THE DAY THE LORD HAS MADE, LET US REJOICE AND BE GLAD".  Reception of the body and vespers will be held Monday afternoon, October 2, 2017, at 2:50 pm with visitation to follow from 3-7 pm at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, 510 Columbus Avenue, Sandusky.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Tuesday morning, October 3, 2017, at 10 am at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, 510 Columbus Avenue, Sandusky.  Fr.  Joe Steinbauer officiating.  Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Sandusky.
   The family suggests that memorial contributions may be made in his memory to Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, 510 Columbus Avenue, Sandusky, OH 44870 or to Stein Hospice Service, Inc., 1200 Sycamore Line, Sandusky, OH 44870.
   Arrangements are entrusted to the David F. Koch Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 520 Columbus Avenue, Sandusky.
   Your memories and words of comfort may be shared with Milt's family at davidfkoch.com.