Albert "Tom" Opp

Albert "Tom" Opp, 88, Grand Forks, North Dakota, died Wednesday, January 23, 2019 in Altru Hospital, Grand Forks.  

Albert Thomas “Tom” Opp was born to Jacob and Lydia Opp on May 31, 1930 in their farmhouse in the community of Livona, ND about 40 miles south of Bismarck and about 4 miles from the Missouri River.

Growing up he was called Tony, in high school he was called Tommy and in his thirties he shortened it to the name we all know him by “Tom”. 

His parents were both German immigrants from Russia.  He finished 8^th grade in a 1 room school house.  He lived and worked on the farm until age 13 and then summers until age 16.  He was baptized into the Seventh Day Adventist Church at age 14.  He attended Bismarck High School and Sheyenne River Academy in Harvey, ND. 

He served in the North Dakota National Guard for 9 months in 1947-48, joined the US Navy in June 1948 and served until June of 1952, serving on the aircraft carrier USS Cabot CVL-28 as a mailman and a teletype operator.

After being honorably discharged from the Navy, Tom returned to Bismarck and attended Bismarck Junior College, graduating with a 2 year degree in 1954.

In Bismarck, he met the love of his life, Helen Schulz.  They were married August 1, 1954.

Tom attended the University of North Dakota from 1954 to 1956 and graduated with a degree in Business and Public Administration with a major in Accounting.

Tom and Helen had 6 children.  Greg was born in Grand Forks while Tom was attending UND in 1955.  Debbie and David were born in Bismarck in 1956 and 1957.  Dean was born in Jamestown in 1961.  Gary and Rod were born in Grand Forks in 1963 & 1966.

Tom worked for Burroughs Corporation as an accounting machine salesman for 6 years from November  1955 to November 1961.  He worked for IBM as a salesman for 25 years, selling typewriters, dictation equipment, word processors, and copiers.

After taking early retirement from IBM in 1987 he was self employed as a motivational sales consultant and motivational speaker.   He believed in the power of a positive mindset and that we should all take control and clean up profanity in our lives. His secret to success was his love and passion for helping people and letting them know that most problems were just “minor inconveniences” in the big picture of life.  

Tom and Helen cherished their time with children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.  They were fortunate to have all the family close by so they could attend the families’ activities – this was their passion.

Tom touched so many lives over the years and at times it seemed like he could not go anywhere without being stopped for a visit with an old friend. 

Tom was a motivator.  Tom was sympathetic.  Tom was compassionate.  He did not see the faults in a person, but rather he saw the positives.  He thought of others first.  Even in his struggle with his health he was always sure to thank others and praise them for their help.  Tom was such a special man to so many and he will be missed. 

Tom is survived by his wife of 64 years, Helen Opp;  his 6 children:  Greg (Susan) Opp, Debbie Opp, David Opp, Dean Opp (Mary Haslerud Opp), Gary (Joan) Opp, Rod (Sue) Opp;  9 grandchildren: Mike (Moriah) Opp, Sally (Jeremy) Miskavige, Brittany Opp, Fritz Opp, Lukas (Katrina) Opp, Hannah Opp, Chelsey Opp Lukach, Morgan Opp, Jesse Opp; and 6 great grandchildren: Wilson Opp, Julia Opp, Mila Miskavige, Nolan Miskavige, Bexlee Opp, and Addison Lukach.

Funeral Services will be 11:00 a.m. Monday, January 28, 2019 in Seventh-day Adventist Church, 3610 Cherry St., Grand Forks.  Visitation will be for one hour prior to the service in the church.  Private interment will be in Memorial Park South Cemetery, Grand Forks. 

Memorials are preferred to Anne Carlsen Center (annecarlsen.org) , Altru Cancer Center (https://www.altru.org) or the Seventh-day Adventist Church (grandforkschurch.com) in Grand Forks.