In Memory Of
Opal Eva Redwine
1915
2017
Opal Eva Redwine
April 20, 1915 — February 17, 2017
Opal E. (Hoeckle) Redwine, 101, Topeka, passed away Friday, February 17, 2017. She was born April 20, 1915 in Petersburg, NE to Phillip and Alta (Claar) Hoeckle. In 1917, Opal migrated to a beautiful farmstead along the Pipestem River near Edmunds and Pingree, ND. She was the fourth of twelve brothers and sisters.
Opal graduated from Edmunds High School, attended nursing training at Mercy Hospital at Valley City, worked at the State Hospital in Jamestown, ND, one year at Northern Pacific Railroad Hospital, two years in Missoula, MT, allowing her to tour the Northwest free on the train during time off, also volunteering for the Red Cross. It was the Red Cross that persuaded Opal to enter the Army-Air Force nursing in 1942, quoting, "It was my duty. I had three brothers in military-I knew I couldn't take care of them but I might be able to take care of someone else's brothers". She trained at Fort George, Spokane, WA, served at Kearney, NE Military Hospital one year, where she met her love, Captain Ernest Redwine, (passing through by train and taken sick with measles and fever), Grand Island, NE Military Base Hospital (an ammunitions depot area). She was to be deployed to the South Pacific a few days after the U.S. dropped the bomb leading to the end of World War II.
On June 27, 1945, Opal married that Captain Redwine on the family farm by Pingree, ND, was then to be transferred to the Chicago area while Earnie was to go to Forbes Base in Topeka. Opal took her discharge in 1945 as a 1st Lieutenant, making her lifetime home in Topeka and beginning her second chapter of nursing as a private nurse before joining Christ Hospital, now Stormont-Vail as head nurse 7-west and retiring in 1983. A special memory was helping victims of the Topeka tornado. Opal was awarded the Carl C. Lamley Memorial award for distinguished service in 1976.
From her roots in Nebraska and North Dakota, Opal was a great cook (an icon chocolate pie for gatherings), loved nature, her flowers, and gardening; sharing her harvest with all. She had a saying "I love you Charlie Redwine—the prettiest bird in Topeka, KS", loved birds and children, and she was everyone's caretaker, leading by example, humor and her wit.
Opal is survived by her brother, Myron Hoeckle, Jamestown, ND; sister-in-laws, Peggy Hoeckle, Jamestown, ND, Mary Hoeckle, Corpus Christ, TX; brother-in-law, Calvin Redwine, Covington, OK; many nieces and nephews; very special lifelong friends, Helen and the late Dave Garretson and their family. She was preceded in death by her husband Ernie, her parents, and ten brothers and sisters.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, February 22, 2017 at West Side Christian Church. Burial will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery. Opal will lie in state at Penwell-Gabel Mid-Town Chapel from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 21, 2017.
To leave a special message for the family online, visit the guestbook below.
Opal graduated from Edmunds High School, attended nursing training at Mercy Hospital at Valley City, worked at the State Hospital in Jamestown, ND, one year at Northern Pacific Railroad Hospital, two years in Missoula, MT, allowing her to tour the Northwest free on the train during time off, also volunteering for the Red Cross. It was the Red Cross that persuaded Opal to enter the Army-Air Force nursing in 1942, quoting, "It was my duty. I had three brothers in military-I knew I couldn't take care of them but I might be able to take care of someone else's brothers". She trained at Fort George, Spokane, WA, served at Kearney, NE Military Hospital one year, where she met her love, Captain Ernest Redwine, (passing through by train and taken sick with measles and fever), Grand Island, NE Military Base Hospital (an ammunitions depot area). She was to be deployed to the South Pacific a few days after the U.S. dropped the bomb leading to the end of World War II.
On June 27, 1945, Opal married that Captain Redwine on the family farm by Pingree, ND, was then to be transferred to the Chicago area while Earnie was to go to Forbes Base in Topeka. Opal took her discharge in 1945 as a 1st Lieutenant, making her lifetime home in Topeka and beginning her second chapter of nursing as a private nurse before joining Christ Hospital, now Stormont-Vail as head nurse 7-west and retiring in 1983. A special memory was helping victims of the Topeka tornado. Opal was awarded the Carl C. Lamley Memorial award for distinguished service in 1976.
From her roots in Nebraska and North Dakota, Opal was a great cook (an icon chocolate pie for gatherings), loved nature, her flowers, and gardening; sharing her harvest with all. She had a saying "I love you Charlie Redwine—the prettiest bird in Topeka, KS", loved birds and children, and she was everyone's caretaker, leading by example, humor and her wit.
Opal is survived by her brother, Myron Hoeckle, Jamestown, ND; sister-in-laws, Peggy Hoeckle, Jamestown, ND, Mary Hoeckle, Corpus Christ, TX; brother-in-law, Calvin Redwine, Covington, OK; many nieces and nephews; very special lifelong friends, Helen and the late Dave Garretson and their family. She was preceded in death by her husband Ernie, her parents, and ten brothers and sisters.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, February 22, 2017 at West Side Christian Church. Burial will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery. Opal will lie in state at Penwell-Gabel Mid-Town Chapel from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 21, 2017.
To leave a special message for the family online, visit the guestbook below.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Opal Eva Redwine, please visit our flower store.
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