Obituary of Opal Marea Fowler

Opal Marea Hensley was born on November 26, 1925 in New Tazewell, Tennessee. She was born to the late Roy and Nellie (Cochran) Hensley. Opal married Lonnie Fowler on May 10, 1947 in Napoleon, Ohio and from this union came the birth of one daughter.

Opal has been a resident of Monroe for ninety-one years. She was a loyal wife, loving mother, and dedicated volunteer for her church and local hospital. Opal was a member of the Eastern Star and during World War II was known as a “Rosie the Riveter”, for her commitment to wartime manufacturing efforts.

Opal Marea Fowler, age 92 passed away at 10:50am on January 5th, 2018 at Vibrant Life Senior Living in Temperance, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. She was preceded in death by her three sisters and two brothers.

To cherish her memory, she leaves her devoted husband of seventy years: Lonnie Ray Fowler; one daughter: Kathy (Clayton) Kotajarvi of Ypsilanti; two grandchildren, Aliina (Adam) Plunk and Craig (Sammantha) Kotajarvi; and two great-grandchildren: Benjamin and Kristiana Plunk.

Friends may gather on Monday, January 8, 2018 from 4:00pm until 8:00pm at Merkle Funeral Service; 14567 South Dixie Highway and on Tuesday, January 9th, 2018 from 10:00am until a Celebration of Her Life at 11:00am also at Merkle’s with Pastor Flora Gootee officiating. Procession will follow to Roselawn Memorial Park for entombment.

In lieu of flowers memorials for those who wish are suggested to Stewart Road Church of God; 1199 Stewart Road Monroe, Michigan 48162 or Great Lakes Hospice; 900 Cooper Street Jackson, Michigan 49202. Online guests may leave words of comfort and inspiration, share a photo or send a floral arrangement by visiting www.merklefs.com.