William Opsahl ’54

OpsahlWilliam Gerald Opsahl,  age 79, of Minneapolis, passed away Sept 1, 2015.

Preceded in death by parents Morris and Eileen, Bill attended Duluth East High School, graduating from Williston Academy and Yale University (’58). He sang with the Yale Glee Club, Bakers’ Dozen and Whiffenpoofs.

His lifelong involvement with the arts included president of the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra, performances with the Minnesota Chorale, and Basilica Choir. He was an appointee to the Minnesota State Arts Board, served on the Board of the Minnesota Parks and Trails Council and Duluth Zoo, advocated for passage of Minnesota’s 2008 Arts and Cultural Heritage Legacy Amendment, and was active in Minnesota’s Republican party.

He was Minnesota representative for the Yale Alumni Association and trustee emeritus of The Williston School. He was the Executive Vice President of Superwood Corporation and later engaged in venture capital and consulting.

He is survived by his wife, Karen Voss; his children Lee Stubenvoll (John), Laura Bordelon (Brett) and Michael Opsahl (Lisa); grandchildren Megan Knetsch (Jonathan), Michael Stubenvoll, Ari Opsahl (Harley), Matthew and Thomas Opsahl, and Maxwell Bordelon; and great granddaughter Ella Knetsch.

2 thoughts on “William Opsahl ’54”

  1. Bill was a fellow member of the class of Williston ’54 and one of my roommates at Yale the following year. He was always a smart, articulate, and likeable guy. We last met over a beer at the Northampton Inn about ten or so years ago and exchanged histories – and he was still the same admirable guy. I greatly admire his musical career, and also his support for the arts, which arts desperately need. And I send condolences to his family. Theirs is a great loss.

  2. Bill and I were good friends at Williston. Shortly after graduation we took a canoe trip for three weeks into the Quetico Provincial Park in Canada due north of Minnesota. Since that time in 1954 hardly a day has past in my life that I haven’t recalled some incident of that remarkable trip.

    At our 50th Williston reunion we spent a whole day talking, catching up, and recalling many of the events of that wonderful trip. Bill will always be in my memory. I hope he is in a better place.

    My condolences to the family.

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