1913 - 1985
Wife --- Lavanna Opperman 1919 - 1978
Entered service on March 9, 1942
Branch of service: Army
Embarkation: September 7, 1944
Served in the European theater of operation
Engaged in the Battle of the Bulge in northern France
Awarded 2 Bronze Stars, Good Conduct Medal, Combat Infantryman's Badge
Returned to United States on February 2, 1945
Discharged at Camp Carson, Colorado on July 24, 1945
Rank held: Staff Sergeant
Served 40 months
Raymond Opperman, 71, a retired custodian and former operator of the Manilla Drive-In Cafe, died Sunday evening, January 13, at his home in Manilla. Graveside services were conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday, January 17, at the Manning cemetery with the Rev. Glenn Wiechmann, pastor of Trinity Lutheran church in Manilla, officiating. The Ohde Funeral Home of Manilla was in charge of arrangements. Mr. Opperman is survived by a sister Hilda Nissen, Manning; a sister-in-law Mrs. Roger (Della) Georgius, Manilla; nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife and his mother Johanna. Mr. Opperman was born January 14, 1913, at Manilla. He was raised by John and Anna Rogers Opperman.
He attended Manilla schools and during World War II served with the U.S. armed forces, winning two Bronze Stars, the Good Conduct Medal and a Combat Infantry badge.
He was married to Lavanna Marie Rohde in 1949. They made their home in Manilla where he became custodian of the Manilla school. He also operated the Drive-in Cafe. In the 1960s, he worked at Crescent Beach Resort at Arnold Park, Iowa. His wife died in 1978 and he moved back to Manilla during the past year. He made his home at the Manilla Manor Nursing Home and later moved to his own home in Manilla.