Source: Newspaper obituary; no date; CFH files

Jean J. Oppenheim (1896-1949)

Jean Oppenheim Died in Hospital
Funeral Was Held Sunday Afternoon

Jean J. Oppenheim, North Manchester merchant, died very suddenly about 1:30 in the St. Joseph hospital in fort Wayne. His death came as a great shock to members of his family and the community, for although he had not been in good health for several years, there was no indication that his condition was serious. He and Mrs. Oppenheim returned recently from a visit of several weeks in Florida, and the first of last week he went to the hospital for a series of clinical examinations. He returned home daily but Wednesday evening he was feeling somewhat worse and went back to the hospital to stay overnight. His condition was such he was placed in an oxygen tent. Thursday noon after the store closed for the day, Mrs. Oppenheim and son, Philip, went to the hospital and still there was no indication that his condition was critical. Because he could not talk to them easily while in the oxygen tent, they did not remain at his bedside long, and went up town for lunch. Shortly after they left he collapsed and death occurred almost instantly.

The body was brought to the Bender Funeral Home, and Friday evening was returned to the family home where the funeral service was held Sunday afternoon at two o'clock. Adolph Welker of Fort Wayne and the Rev. Homer Ogle conducted the service and burial was in Oaklawn cemetery. At the request of the family flowers were omitted.

Mr. Oppenheim was a son of Ben and Nettie Kahn Oppenheim and was born in North Manchester July 1, 1896. He attended the North Manchester schools and later Columbia University where he graduated from the commerce department. He enlisted in October, 1917, in the army, serving until the end of World War I. With the exception of about a year with the Lincoln Trust Company of Fort Wayne, he has been connected with the Oppenheim store, a business founded by his grandfather, Jacob Oppenheim, in 1875. He was married to Miss Valerie Dohner June 19, 1922. Surviving are the widow, two children, Mrs. Albert Eisenstein of Brentwood, Missouri, and Philip, who has been associated in the store for the past year or more, the father, Ben Oppenheim, who is 86 years old, and two grandchildren. Mrs. Eisenstein arrived Thursday night and her husband came here Friday. Jean Oppenheim was a member of the Masonic lodge, the Scottish Rite, and the Shrine in Fort Wayne.