Frederick "Fred" G. Opat, age 80, of Hessville, passed away peacefully on Friday, May 13, 2011.

He is survived by 3 sons:

Michael (Nancy) Opat of Michigan City;

Daniel (Tracy) Opat of Munster and Patrick Opat of Hessville;

one daughter, Michele (Darrell) Huebner of Grovertown;

two grandsons: Alexander Opat of Michigan City and Timothy Opat of Tampa, FL;

sister-in-law, Sandy Overack of Broken Arrow, OK; numerous nieces, nephews and close friend, Fred Whitton.

Preceded in death by his beloved wife of 34 years, Mildred M. "Millie" Opat; parents, George B. and Vera G. (nee, Wozniczka) Opat; sister, Joann Krizo and brother, Fr. Kenneth Opat.

Funeral Services will be held on Monday, May 16, 2011 with prayers at 9:30am at Bocken Funeral Home, 7042 Kennedy Avenue, Hammond (Hessville) followed by a 10:00 am Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, 7132 Arizona Avenue, Hammond (Hessville) with Father Charles Mosley celebrant. Entombment will follow at Chapel Lawn Memorial Gardens in Schererville. Friends are invited to meet with the family on Sunday, May 15th from 2:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Bocken Funeral Home

Fred was born on August 31, 1930 in Whiting and has been a resident of the Hessville section of Hammond for 54 years. He was a longtime faithful parishioner of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church and a member of Club Ki-Yoga in East Chicago. Fred was a proud U.S. Army veteran and a member of American Legion Allied Post #369 whose members will post Colors Sunday at 7pm in the funeral home. He was an employee of Standard Oil and a retiree of N.I.P.S.C.O. with 30 years of service. In lieu of flowers memorials to one of Fred's favorite charities are preferred; Hospice of the Calumet Area, 600 Superior Ave., Munster, IN 46321 or Share Foundation, P.O. Box 400, Rolling Prairie, IN 46371. For more information you may call Bocken Funeral Home at (219)-844-1600 or you may visit us at: www.bockenfunerals.com.