Jack E. Opperman, age 80, of Pilot Mound, Iowa, died Monday, July 9, 2018, at Israel Family Hospice House in Ames, Iowa.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, July 13, 2018, at the First Christian Church, 250 West E Avenue, in Nevada, Iowa, with burial to follow in Evergreen Memory Gardens in Nevada.  Military honors will be conducted by William F. Ball Post No. 48 of the American Legion.  Visitation will be held at the church on Thursday from 5-7 p.m. 

Born October 15, 1937, in Iowa City, Iowa, Jack Eldon Opperman was the son of Edward and Ethel (Wakeham) Opperman.  He grew up and received his education in Nevada, and married Patricia Wallace on January 21, 1957.  The couple was blessed with five children, Margo, Terry, Debra, Linda, and Jack, Jr. 

Jack joined the United States Air Force and served honorably for over 20 years, six of which were overseas.  The bulk of Jack's military career was based at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida.  In 1980, he and Patricia returned to Nevada where they lived for the next 20 years until making their home in Crestview, Florida.  After Pat’s death in 2003, Jack moved to Pilot Mound where he lived until his death.  He married Jackie (Fullerton) Burkhart in 2005. 

Jack loved golfing and spent many happy hours perfecting his game.  He also enjoyed dabbling in guns, collecting them, and reloading his own shotgun shells.  He had a great appreciation for music and, even though he couldn’t carry a tune, never tired of testing his skills at karaoke.  He was a strict but loving parent known for his joking nature and stubborn personality.

Survivors include his five children, Margo Walker of Texas, Terry Ingham of Pilot Mound, Debra (Dennis “Chip”) Chapman of Florida, Linda (Michel “Mike”) Clements of Florida, and Jack “Chip” Opperman, Jr. of Ankeny; 12 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; a brother, Richard “Dick” (Helen) Opperman of Ames; and numerous nieces, nephews, and other extended family members.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents; his two wives; his daughter-in-law, Samantha Opperman; two grandchildren, Caitlyn Rae Opperman and Carter Ryan Opperman; five brothers, Bob and Bill Opperman, and Butch, Jordan, and Mike Jacobson; and two sisters, Norma Okland and Shirley Carmack.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Jack’s memory may be directed to the Wounded Warrior Project, 4899 Belfort Rd. Suite 300, Jacksonville, FL  32256, or www.woundedwarriorproject.org.   Ryan Funeral Home of Nevada has been entrusted with the care of Jack and his family.