Alfred and Edna Opitz were both born at Nashville, Kansas. They were both
   baptized, confirmed and married in St. John's Lutheran Church. Alfred was
   born June 4, 1907, and Edna was born May 2, 1916. They were married May 5, 
   1935.
     Alfred's parents were Henry G. and Bertha W. (Graunke) Opitz. Alfred was
   a Sunday School teacher at Nashville. He attended St. John's College and
   graduated from Pittsburg University in 1934. He was very active in the
   Walther League and he was its president for many years. He loved leading
   young folks in party games.
     Edna's parents were Fred and Louise (Laverentz) Dicke. They moved to
   Nashville from Hanover, Kansas.
     Edna's father, Fred Dicke, and Alfred's father, Henry Opitz Sr. and
   Alfred were all elders in the church at one time or another.
     Alfred's father, Henry G. Optiz, came over from Germany to "the land of
   oportunity" and settled in Kansas City, Kansas. He could not speak one word
   of English. Alfred's mother, Bertha W. Graunke, also came over from Germany
   to Kansas City, Kansas, and settled with her aunt and uncle in Kansas City,
   Kansas. Her parents had both passed away. Alfred's parents were married in
   Kansas City, Kansas. They moved to Nashville, Kansas, because of an
   advertisement they read in a German paper, The Rundshow. Alfred still has
   the advertisement.
     Alfred loved baseball and was manager of the Nashville ball club for some
   years. Walter Kahmeyer was the main pitcher.
     Alfred and Edna farmed his father's farm for about ten years. In 1945, 
   Alfred and Edna moved to Lexington, Nebraska, where Alfred accepted a call
   to teach in the Christian Day School. In 1950, they found themselves in
   Garden City, Kansas, operating a motel.
     Alfred's and Edna's fathers cut the Lutheran Cemetery grass with horses
   and mower for years. They would rake the hay and haul it off.
     Alfred often substituted for the minister in local and surrounding
   congregations when a minister was absent.
     Edna was an organist in various congreagations for many years.
     Alfred and Edna have three daughters. Carol and her husband, Bill Malcolm
   live in Hutchinson, Kansas. They have a son and a daughter and five grand-
   children.
     Glenda and her husband, John Austin, live in Searcy, Arkansas.
     Phyllis and her husband, Merle Goss, live in Mountain Home, Arkansas. They
   have three children and two grandchildren.
     Alfred and Edna are now retired in Mountain Home, Arkansas.
                       
  Source:St. John's Lutheran Church Centennial 1893-1993, Nashville, Kansas, pg. 77 
  Submitted by: Alfred Opitz