Obituary of Opal Brachtenbach

Longtime Kit Carson County resident Opal F. (Degering) Brachtenbach, passed away February 20, 2006 at the Kit Carson County Memorial Hospital in Burlington. She was 82 years old. Opal was born on August 27, 1923, on the family farm north of Stratton, Colorado to Benjamin and Amelia (Schroeder) Degering. She was the youngest of three children. She attended country school, until the family moved to Avoca, Arkansas in the 1930’s. The family then moved to Orange, California. They returned to live north of Stratton. Opal met, and later married Joe Brachtenbach on January 26, 1942. They lived in several places north of Stratton, moving to town for a short time, before purchasing the “homeâ€? place. In 1992, the moved off the family farm to Burlington. Together they raised six children; Barbara, LeRoy, Gary, LaDonna, Janell and Shirley. Opal enjoyed her time as a homemaker, and was a constant help will all the farming and ranching. Joe and Opal would work hard all week, so on the weekends, they could travel the countryside “antiquing.â€? She had a wealth of knowledge about so many of the collectables. She passed this knowledge on to her children, and each of them have a passion for their own collections. Joe and Opal met countless others who shared their “antiquingâ€? interests. You could ask her where they purchased some item, and Opal would not only tell you how much it cost, but who they purchased it from and where they lived. She had two hobbies that she enjoyed after her children were raised, stain-glass and bowling. Opal was preceded in death by her parents and a brother Duane. She is survived by her husband Joe, and her children Barbara Eisenbart and her husband Tom of Goodland, and their children John Eisenbart, Debbie Stegman, and Sandra Walker; LeRoy and Susie Brachtenbach of Stratton, and his sons Zane Brachtenbach and Eric Brachtenbach; Gary Brachtenbach and his wife Cynthia of Stratton, and their children Clayton Brachtenbach and Lindsey Brachtenbach, LaDonna Anderson of Fruitland, Florida, and her children Jimmy Anderson, Bobby Anderson and Crystal Anderson; Janell Wood and her husband Brian of Ordway, and their sons Michael Wood and Matthew Wood; Shirley Jarnagin and her husband Kevin of Seibert, and their sons David Jarnagin and Ryan Jarnagin; and her sister Gladys Mathison of Rosemead, California; and a sister-in-law Carmileta Degering. Opal is also survived by eighteen great grandchildren and a host of relatives. Funeral services were held on Friday, February 24, 2006 at 2:00 PM at the Love Funeral Home in Burlington, with Pastor Bob Strauch officiating. Burial followed in the Claremont Cemetery in Stratton. Visitation was held on Friday from 1:00 to 2:00 PM at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Girl and Boy Scouts in Stratton and may be left at the First National Bank in Stratton.