Opal Leona Krehbiel, 95, of Hutchinson, passed peacefully and left the loving care of her family to be reunited with her heavenly family on July 15, 2020, at Hospice House, Hutchinson. Opal was born January 7, 1925, in Pretty Prairie, to Ben P.O. and Adina (Graber) Graber.
She attended Savage Elementary School and was a 1943 graduate of Pretty Prairie High School. Opal helped her parents on the farm. She worked in retail at Kresses Department Store, Frank’s Fashion Center, and Long’s of Hutchinson. Opal retired in 1990 with seventeen years of service in processing and inter-library loans from the Hutchinson Public Library. She was a member of First Mennonite Church, Hutchinson, and served on various committees. Opal enjoyed sewing, gardening, and cooking for her family, especially making peppernuts, homemade cinnamon rolls, peach jam, and ethnic dishes. She was a resident of Sunshine Meadows Retirement Community, Buhler.
On January 7, 1945, she married Leroy D. Krehbiel, at the Pretty Prairie Mennonite Church. They shared over fifty-seven years of marriage, prior to his death on April 6, 2002.
Opal is survived by her children, Karen (Ed) Wagner, Jack (Faith) Krehbiel, and Tamara Gwaltney; grandchildren, Krista (Jason) Votruba, Lisa (Dave) Wright, Ryan (Julie) Wagner, Malinda (John) O’Hara, Jennifer (Alex) Sullivan, and Kyle Gwaltney; and great-grandchildren, Vaughn and Katelyn Votruba, Molly, Maggie, and Megan Wright, Jack and Abby Wagner, and Ethan, Isaac, and Elizabeth O’Hara.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Leroy D. Krehbiel; son-in-law, Mark Gwaltney; and siblings, Helen Kaufman, Edna Graber, Mabel Krehbiel, Hermie Keller, and Raymond Graber.
Public graveside service will be 10 a.m. Saturday, July 18, 2020, at Fairlawn Burial Park, 2401 Carey Boulevard, Hutchinson. Private family memorial service will be held at First Mennonite Church, 52 Rambler Road, Hutchinson, with Pastor Tonya Ramer Wenger officiating. The private memorial service can be viewed by selecting the link on the church’s website, www.hutchfmc.org. Friends may sign the book from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, July 17, 2020, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, at Elliott Mortuary.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Hospice House, Hutchinson, or First Mennonite Church, Hutchinson, in care of Elliott Mortuary and Crematory, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.