ELWOOD LOUIS OPITZ, age 82, of Luverne, died Sunday, December 5, 2010, at the Sanford Luverne Hospice Cottage. He was born April 14, 1928, in Roslyn, SD, to George and Ludmilla (Oreslan) Opitz. He attended country school in rural Rosyln and graduated from Roslyn High School in 1946. He served in the National Guard in 1947. He lived on his family farm till the age of 20. Elwood married Audrey Hills on July 26, 1949, at St. Peter Catholic Church in Sisseton, SD. In Sisseton, Elwood worked at the Stavig Brothers Grocery Store. In 1951, the couple moved to Watertown, SD, where Elwood was the Assistant Manager at the Red Owl Grocery Store and later, National Foods. In 1960, the family moved to Luverne where Elwood worked at National Foods. Elwood started Opitz Painting in 1964 which he owned & operated until 2008. He was a member of St. Catherine Catholic Church, in Luverne; and a charter member of the Luverne Alcoholics Anonymous. He enjoyed reading, playing cards, woodworking and watching the Minnesota Twins. Elwood is survived by his wife, Audrey Opitz, Luverne; seven children, Connie (Marty) Manley, Mankato; Vickie Kramer, Worthington; Cindy (Marlo) Van Dorsten, Walnut Grove; Carrie (Mike) Zebedee, Jackson; Mary (Jason) Opitz, Mankato; Mark (Annie) Opitz, Luverne; and Laura (Doug) Loosbrock, Lismore; thirteen grandchildren; three great grandchildren; and two sisters, Alvina Opitz, Eden, SD; and Olivia (Gerald) Opitz, Roselyn, SD. He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Herb, Fred & Leonard Opitz; and two sisters, Leona Deutsch & Ludmilla Deutsch.