David M. Oppor

David Mayford Oppor, age 72, of Ripon, WI, died peacefully at home with his wife by his side and has now entered into heavenly peace. 

David was born in Iola, WI on May 5, 1952, to Earl R. and Myra (Terrio) Oppor. He graduated from Little Wolf High School (Manawa) in 1970 and continued his education by taking college classes in engineering. 

On June 21, 1986, he married the love of his life, Melanie Joy Zuge at Zion Lutheran Church in Manawa. David was a kind, loving, gentle, generous, and thoughtful husband and best friend to Melanie for over 37 years. She loved that special twinkle he always had in those gorgeous brown eyes! They bought their first home in Waupaca and later moved to Ripon, Wisconsin. Together they built a home that was ideal for raising a family. Nothing made Dave happier than the evening his daughter, Jennifer Joy, was born. He adored Jennifer and during her younger days, the two of them could be seen walking hand in hand as David completed his errands. Their daddy/daughter bond defies words but evokes palpable feelings as one looks at their many photos together.

David grew up in Ogdensburg, Wisconsin where his love of the outdoors began early in life. He enjoyed hunting with his father and was the State Jr. Trapshooting Champion as a teenager. David and his mother shared a love of kitties. Over his lifetime, Scooter, Squeakie, Lady, and Pirate were David’s little companions and a source of many snuggles and much laughter. One of David’s favorite hunting memories was a trip to Wyoming with his Uncle Russ Oppor to visit David’s parents and hunt mule deer. While they came home empty handed, David marveled at the majestic scenery. David’s prized possession was his yellow 1976 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am that has now become a collector car. Melanie and David took various motorcycle trips to beautiful locations like Niagara Falls and the mountains of Wyoming. He bought his dream motorcycle, a red Harley Davidson Classic Ultra Glide, in 2005. David always had fun boating and fishing on the Wolf River and area lakes. On the annual family trips to Minocqua, he shared this passion with his daughter and her friends. The Chicago Bears and St. Louis Cardinals lost a diehard fan. 

David worked for a land surveyor in Waupaca for many years and enjoyed being outdoors. On rainy days in the surveyor’s office, he developed his meticulous printing skills that he used to record data on plat maps. When the housing market plummeted, David took a position at the Waupaca Foundry. It was hard physical labor, but he enjoyed the camaraderie of “the guys” in the plant. When Melanie accepted her first school administrative position, they moved to Ripon, Wisconsin. David became a school custodian, beginning at Ripon Middle School and later at Barlow Park Elementary School. Daily interactions with students and staff brought David great joy. He also worked part-time as a custodian at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church where he gained many wonderful lifelong friends. 

David is survived by his wife, Melanie Oppor of Ripon; Daughter, Jennifer (Brice) Oppor-Blankenship of Mesa, Arizona; Sister, Judy (Steve) Paulson of Ogdensburg; Mother, Myra J. Oppor currently of Bethany Home in Waupaca, Mother-in-Law, Elaine L. Zuge of Manawa; Brother-in-law, Todd (Corrie) Zuge; Sister-in-law, Tracie Carrick, and the following nieces and nephews: Jacob (Rachel) Paulson, Adam (Nicole) Norder, Ashley Zuge, Jordan Zuge, Hunter (Danielle) Carrick, Noah Carrick, and Kasandra Carrick along with many cousins. David was also fortunate to have friend and neighbor, Mike Shattuck, who provided help at a moment’s notice. He is preceded in death by his Father, Earl R. Oppor; his Father-in-law, Clifford E. Zuge; and his Brother-in-law, Randy Carrick.

David’s family would like to extend their sincere gratitude to the Butzin-Marchant Funeral Home, the Ripon Police Department, the Ripon Guardian Ambulance Service, and the Fond du Lac County Medical Examiner’s Office for their compassionate support upon David’s passing.

Visitation for David will be held Saturday, June 15, 2024, from 9:00 am - 11:00 am at Grace Lutheran Church, 430 W. Griswold St., Ripon, WI, 54971.

A funeral service for David will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, June 15, 2024, at Grace Lutheran Church in Ripon, with Rev. Clay R. Salmela officiating. You may view a livestream of David’s funeral at 11:00 am by visiting Grace Livestream. A luncheon will be served following the service, and all are invited to attend.