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Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
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DEBRA SCHIRM OPPEGARD
DEBRA LYNN SCHIRM OPPEGARD
Cedar Rapids
Debra Lynn Schirm Oppegard struggled with brain and lung cancer and decided to join her father, Coach Ron Schirm, in heaven, on Nov. 7, 2016. She was surrounded by her loved ones.
Debra was born at St. Luke's Hospital on Dec. 24, 1952. Her schooling was in the Cedar Rapids school system. She graduated from Jefferson High School in 1972. Her pursuit of education led her to Iowa State University and a law degree from Washington, D.C.
After a short law practice, she chose motherhood. She became a teacher in the Montessori school system in Virginia and Lexington, Ky.
Her survivors include her mother, Donna W. Schirm; and brother, Kevin J. Schirm and his three daughters and wife. Her immediate family includes Tony, Ariana, Laura, Aaron and Ryan Oppegard.
Burial will be in Lexington on Nov. 18.
One of her greatest gifts to me was the opening of her eyes and a kiss on the cheek before her departure.
From the hospice grief book:
"Then someone said, There she is gone! Gone where? Gone from our sight. Her diminished size is in us (her family) not her. And just at the moment when someone said, There, she is gone! There are other eyes watching her coming and other voices ready to take up the glad shout: Here she Comes! And that is dying."
Cards may be sent to Donna Wray Schirm, 4108 Treeline Ct. NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52411.
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