Carol (Millie) (Oplinger) Bourbon

Millie Carol Oplinger was born on Sunday, April 15, 1923, to Warren B. and Bertha Clark Oplinger, on the family farm east of Jewell, KS which was homesteaded by her grandfather Clark.  Carol departed this life on January 11, 2021, at the Mitchell County Hospital in Beloit, KS.  Carol was the youngest of three children.

Carol attended Spring Creek School through the sixth grade, then Jewell Elementary School and Jewell Rural High School graduating in 1941.

Carol attended church and Sunday school at the Evangelical Church in Jewell and accepted Christ as her Savior at the age of 9.  Carol held many positions in the church and community during her lifetime.  She was a member of the Trinity United Methodist Church at the time of her passing.

Carol held many jobs after high school but after marrying Max Bourbon on June 6, 1943, she settled into the most important “job” in her life, that of farm wife and mother.  Four children were born on this marriage:  Robert, Marilyn, Betty and LeRoy.

After Max and Carol sold the farm in 1973, Carol worked at the hospital in Beloit until 1986 when they opened the “Bourbon’s Little Jewell” café in Jewell.  When the café sold, Carol went back to working at the hospital until her retirement in 2004.

Carol was preceded in death by her husband, Max in 1999, her parents, her brother Clark Oplinger, her sister, Lelah Bohnert and grandson, Kim.  She is survived by her children, Robert (Marty) of Branson, MO, Marilyn of Beloit, Betty (Mike) Harding of Mayetta, KS and LeRoy of Jewell, KS, grandchildren, Troy (Sabrina) Bourbon, Shawn (Lea) Harding, Maren (James) Coligan, Eric (Melanie) Bourbon, Jamie (James) Layne, Jeff (Hannah) Bourbon, Cindie, Gary and Terrie; 30 great-grandchildren and five great great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 10:30 am, Thursday, January 14, at the Trinity United Methodist Church in Jewell with visitation from 2-6 pm, Wednesday, January 13, at the Kleppinger Funeral Home in Jewell.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Trinity United Methodist Church, Solomon Valley Hospice, or the American Heart Association.

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