Remembering Opal Fay Perrin Hansen

Opal

A little bit about my maternal grandmother who I loved incredibly and was so fortunate to have for over 50 years of my life (this blog is dedicated almost entirely to my paternal antecedents).

Carl Leslie (C.L. or Les) and Carrie Fay (Cory) Perrin's third child, Opal Fay Perrin, was born February 21, 1923 at their home next to the famous Little Brown Church in Bradford Township, Chickasaw County, Iowa. In 1925, the family moved to the "Perrin homeplace" where she grew up just outside of New Hartford, Iowa.

She was active in high school—president of the high school in senior year, vice president of the senior class, managing editor of yearbook, an editor of school newspaper and in band all through high school--playing several instruments including clarinet and violin. One of her cousins so enjoyed classical music, he would have her play her entire repertoire on the violin just for him as he sat on a log by the wood pile. In return, he would do her wood chopping chores.

She was valedictorian of the New Hartford class of 1940 and worked as assistant postmaster at the New Hartford post office. She married a young man from Cedar Falls, Russell Hansen, September 14, 1941. They loved to tell the story about their meeting at a local skating rink when Opal caught the eye of her future husband after he fell over the feet of her sister Alice. They were married exactly one year later at the Little Brown Church. With the help of Opal's dad, a building contractor, they built a little house for $600 in a farm field north of Cedar Falls. Russ continued driving for his parent's trucking business, The Blue Line Transfer, and Opal made collections for the family business on foot, walking for miles with their baby daughter on her hip for the grand sum of $5 a week.

Opal at about 16

Russ went into the Army in the summer of 1943 and worked as an MP, attaining the rank of Sergeant. His little family joined him in Denver, Colorado for most of his enlistment. After the war, they returned to their little house in Cedar Falls and built on to it before the arrival of their second daughter in 1947. Russ spent the next four years at Iowa State Teachers College. His first teaching job also included the title of school principal and for the next few years he taught in Iowa schools and an inner city school in Milwaukee while spending almost every summer in Colorado working on his Masters and later his PhD (Ed.) Opal was there, as she always was, to support him. She typed and retyped his dissertation on an old, clunky typewriter until it was perfect.

Through all their many moves, Opal's skills, especially at the sewing machine, made every rental home inviting and comfortable and a hub of activity for their frequent guests. In 1956, they returned to Cedar Falls and built a home on a woodsy bluff in Cedar Heights. Russ taught at the Price Lab School for a short time and then the State College of Iowa but by then, his passion had become square dance calling. He and Opal were founders of the Haylofters Square Dance Club in Cedar Falls and Russ became a frequently-requested caller at square dance events not only in Iowa but throughout the country. Opal acted as his business manager and also ensured they were both looking good in their handmade square dance regalia. They eventually made the decision to make it their full-time business.

After leaving the University, they bought a farm in Bremer County, remodeled the huge old farm house then sold it and built one of the first passive solar homes in Iowa next to their old farm property. Next, they traded in their house for a Greyhound bus that they outfitted to keep them living in comfort as they traveled from one square dance gig to the next throughout the Western US. They finally retired in Mt Pleasant, Iowa for a few years in the 1990s before becoming year-round residents of Arizona.

Opal had been wheelchair-bound for a time and they eventually moved in with their youngest

Opal HS Graduation

daughter who lived nearby.

Opal was the epitome of the perfect 1940s/1950s housewife, managing all facets of daily living in the city or on the farm, from tending a big garden and orchard to managing business affairs and entertaining large groups of people. She was Martha Stewart before there was a Martha Stewart, except she never gave herself the credit Martha gives herself.

Opal was also a fine artist, creating beautiful art work of many types. Somehow, she managed to do it all without ever having learned to drive. Had she been born in a different generation, Opal might have been a clothing designer. When she was five, her dad cut down the legs of a piano stool so she could reach the treadle on the sewing machine. From then on, she designed and cut patterns from newspapers for sewing everything from dresses to winter coats to men's suits--she even designed and made fashionable uniforms from salvaged World War II parachute material for an entire girl's basketball team.

Despite her physical challenges later in life, she had a quick, intelligent mind and a wonderful laugh. She continued to play cards with the family and, as always, she rarely lost a game. She taught her children and grandchildren the spirit of friendly competitiveness. After 69 years of marriage, Opal passed away in Arizona on April 3, 2012. She left her husband, two daughters, three granddaughters, one grandson, and three great grandchildren.