Richard James Opie II
June 17, 1959 - Aug. 1, 2024
Richard James Opie II died on August 1, 2024, at 65.
Born June 17, 1959, to Richard and Roberta Opie, Richard was the oldest of five boys. He and his brothers grew up in Pewaukee, WI, playing basketball and causing mischief.
After high school, Richard attended UW-Madison and earned his B.A. in political science. Driven by a passion for justice, he went to University of California-Davis to become a lawyer. A few years later, he also earned his M.A. in political science from UW-Milwaukee, because, why not?
In 1989, Richard met the love of his life, Charlene, and wooed her with his guitar the first night they met. In their 31 years of marriage, she was always the first to hear his original songs, many of which were about her. Together, they raised three super cool kids: Madeline, Abraham, and Meredith.
In 2005, they moved to Cleveland, WI, where Richard taught law and was the union president at Lakeshore Technical College (LTC). He was a dedicated instructor to thousands of students, who say he was inspiring, engaging, and motivated them to learn. Richard and his family loved their life and home in Cleveland.
Richard will be missed by many, including his four brothers and their spouses (Peter and Jill, Paul and Kim, Robert and Linda, and Tom and Theresa), his goddaughter Ella, the entire Opie family, the Thompson family, his very best friends who guided each other through life, his law school family that gathered annually for The Clam Bake, his Sheboygan and Cleveland people (it takes a 鈥淰illage鈥), his YMCA basketball crew, and his colleagues and students at LTC.
This world has lost a friend, brother, uncle, musician, teacher, and political activist. However, his wife and kids believe his greatest role was 鈥淒ad.鈥 He instilled into all three of his children a love for nature and music and reminded each of them to 鈥渂e a leader.鈥
Richard鈥檚 life was marked by his love for his people and the grand adventures they shared. Whether playing 5 a.m. pickup hoops, canoeing down the Wisconsin River, or backpacking through the mountains, he embraced life fully. He was incredibly smart; he was goofy, and he could dish it out to anyone who could take it.
Richard left this earth with no shortage of love, and we take comfort in knowing that when he went, he picked up his guitar to sing with the angels.
Please join us for a brunch celebrating Richard鈥檚 life at the Watershed Hotel in Sheboygan, WI, on Saturday, August 24, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, consider donating to The National Park Foundation to honor Richard鈥檚 love of the outdoors, or make a contribution to help the Opie family with outstanding medical expenses.