Opal M. Colstrup, 85, died peacefully on Dec. 2, 2007, at St. John&8217;s Nursing Home after struggling with Alzheimers for years. She is finally at peace and at home.

She was preceded in death by husband, Albert (Bud); parents Althea and Clifford Knudtson; brother Roy Knudtson; and sister Jeanette Jensen.

She is survived by daughters, Susan Colstrup (special friend Chuck Rye) of Mound and Mary (Karl) Sidor of Atlanta, Ga.; son Jim (Sharon) Colstrup of Albert Lea; grandchildren Skip (Andrea) Newton, Andy (Kim) O&8217;Donnell, Kelley O&8217;Donnell, Samantha Solland and Madison Colstrup; four great-grandchildren Lara and Alex Newton and Christopher and David O&8217;Donnell; sister Pearl (Earl) Olsen of Fort Dodge, Iowa; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Shirley Berg, Dennis and Carol Colstrup, Ken and Maxine Colstrup, Earl and Rosemary Colstrup and Clara Satre; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Opal graduated from Lake Mills High School and married her husband on Nov. 6, 1942. They lived in Albert Lea after Bud finished serving in the armed forces during World War II. For many years they raised and sold strawberries on their small acreage north of Albert Lea. Opal worked for Land O&8217;Lakes and then eventually retired from serving on the cafeteria staff at Southwest Junior High. She enjoyed bowling, camping and solving crossword puzzles. She was devoted to her family and especially her grandkids.

There will be a memorial service on Friday at 1 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. Memorials are preferred to Trinity Lutheran Church, St. John&8217;s Nursing Home or Alzheimer&8217;s research.