Ronald George Opat

Ronald George Opat, 75, of Crossville, Tennessee, passed away on the morning of December twenty-ninth. Born in Sharon, Pennsylvania on the twelfth of September, nineteen-fifty, Ron was a loving and devoted son, brother, and uncle.

Ron served in the United States Air Force as an Avionics Navigation Systems Specialist from January 1977 until January 1980, when he received an honorable discharge to his home in Seminole, Florida. During his service, Ron would attain the rank of Sergeant and serve a year and a half in Okinawa, Japan.

An adventurous outdoorsman, Ron enjoyed all manner of sportsman activities. Hunting, fishing, and camping were Ron’s passions in his youth. He enjoyed hunting in Chassahwitzka, Florida with his brother-in-law Eddie, where he maintained a second residence for the sport.

In his retirement, Ron would become an avid woodworker, crafting hundreds of turned pieces of wood. He maintained an orchard with more than two dozen fruiting trees, and maintained citrus trees he brought with him to Tennessee upon his retirement.

He is preceded in death by his mother Rose Opat, and father George Opat, his sister Frances Jones, and brother-in-law Edwin Jones. He is survived by his sister Maryanne Freytag, brother-in-law Dennis Freytag, niece Dianna Freytag, great-niece Rachel Kimberlin, great-nephew Nathan Kimberlin, niece Debbie Vacca, great-niece Lindsay (Tyler) Schafer, grandnephew Rory Schaefer, niece Lauri (Eric) Michael, great-niece Rose Barton, grandnephew Gauge Cronin, grandniece Kendall Cronin, great-nephew Andrew (Heather) Barton, grandniece Amelia Barton, great-nephew Michael (Schyler) Barton, great-niece Erica (Austin) Mull, grandniece Marcy Mull, grandniece Octavia Mull, and great-nephew Justin Michael.

A private graveside service will be held at Serenity Gardens, of Largo, Florida.