Martha Oppel
Oppel, Martha passed peacefully at her residence in Troy, Ohio, USA with her family by her side on Monday, May 22, 2023 after a brief illness. Martha Oppel was born on March 1, 1935, in Kurasch, Poland, to Adolf and Maria Krebs. It was not long afterwards that the storm of World War II threatened to undo her young life. Her youthful mind was imprinted with real-life scenes of slain soldiers, while bullets flew around the wagon she was traveling in. The rigor of forced labor camps, hunger, and homelessness shaped her life. She emigrated from Germany to Canada at the age of eighteen years.
On September 26, 1970, she was joined in holy matrimony to the love of her life, Alfons Friedrich Oppel. Mutual trust, support, and adoration characterized their marriage until they were parted by death after more than forty-four years of life together. Even in their old age, their love for one another bloomed with perennial freshness and youthful playfulness.
Martha experienced real salvation early in life and clung to God with unwavering and exemplary fidelity. Her face and spirit consistently radiated serenity and joy. The devotion of her heart and mind brought about marked spiritual agility which defied even old age, as she
diligently strove to keep pace with the present progression of God’s work upon the earth.
She was preceded in death by her husband Alfons Friedrich, daughter Benita Crista, siblings Arnold Krebs, Else Pahl, Reinhardt Krebs, son-in-law Timothy James Vandervalk, grandchildren Amos John, Michael Aaron, Julia Grace.
She will be missed by her children Agnes Wiebe (Richard), Alfred (Elizabeth), and Monika Vandervalk. She is the loving Oma of Titus Paul, Warner Layne, Rebekah Suzanne, Sarah Marie, Lucretia Ann.
The funeral service was held at the Church of God in Greenville, Ohio, USA on Sunday, May 28, 2023 at 11 AM, with Elder D. Ray Tinsman presiding. The committal service was conducted at the Church of God Cemetery by Elder Henry Hildebrandt.