Fred Oppel, Jr.

Fred John Oppel, Jr., was born Jan. 29, 1929, in Kingfi sher to Fred Oppel, Sr., and Marie Kunneman Oppel.

Fred passed away Oct. 4, 2024, in Kingfisher at the age of 95.

He was baptized at home and later confirmed by Pastor Martin Yauk on June 7, 1942, at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Kingfisher where he remained a member until his death.

Fred attended grade school at Locust Grove and graduated from Omega High School as valedictorian in 1946.

He then attended Central State University and Oklahoma A&M where he graduated with honors in the school of engineering, receiving his master’s in agricultural engineering and a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering in 1952.

While in college he was a member of honorary fraternities Sigma Tau and Phi Kappa Phi.

He married Mildred Marie Peters on Nov. 16, 1958, by Pastor Knauft in El Reno and she has been his loving wife for 66 years.

Fred was employed out of college by Phillips 66 in Bartlesville, but only worked there for a short time until returning to help his family with farming and ranching while also working as a soil conservation contractor.

Fred served his Lord and church in many offices at Emmanuel and taught Sunday School for many years.

He was president of the Oklahoma district Walther League for two years. He also served as a lay representative for the Kingfisher circuit of the Oklahoma district Lutheran Church Missouri Synod Board for 25 years.

He was a member of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, serving as president for several years.

Fred was faithful to his Lord and Savior and he always treated others the way he would want to be treated.

He served as a director on the board of Kingfisher Regional Hospital and as a bank director of People’s National Bank for over a 20-year period.

He also was a director at Farmers Co-op Supply for 12 years as secretary for 11 years.

He belonged to many organizations including Kingfisher County Cattlemen, Kingfisher County Wheat Growers and Oklahoma Land Improvement Contractors and was a member of the Kingfisher County Farm Bureau.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his two brothers, Henry and Robert.

He is survived by his wife Mildred of the home; two sons, Dale and wife Denise of Kingfisher and Fred III and wife Susan of Albuquerque, N.M.; four grandchildren, Jennifer and husband Kennt Brady of Kingfisher, Jonathan Oppel of Oklahoma City, Sarah and husband Roger Brown of Albuquerque and Emily and husband Bill Pruett of Omaha, Neb.; six great-grandchildren and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Visitation for Fred was Wednesday, Oct. 9, at Sanders Funeral Service Chapel.

Graveside services will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 10, at Kingfisher Cemetery under the direction of Sanders Funeral Service.

Donations in Fred’s memory may be made to the Lutheran Hour Ministries, found at lutheranhour.org.