Brenda Turteltaub
Brenda Sue Turteltaub, age 54, left us too early Sunday, November 27, 2016 at Lake Almanor, CA. As per her wishes, she has been cremated. There will be a memorial at a date yet to be determined. Memorials can be given to local animal rescues or Zalmona Church.
Brenda was born in Waukon May 1, 1962 to Marcie and Edward (Jim) Opfer. She grew up in Waukon riding horses with her dad, waterskiing with her friends on the Mississippi River and making friends wherever she went - a trait that followed her for the rest of her life.
She loved her big brother, Bob, and her two sisters, Sheryl (John) Prestemon and Linda (Jerry) Beck. She graduated from Waukon High School and went on to Iowa State University where she graduated in 1987 and met her future husband of 30 years, Ken Turteltaub.
Brenda and Ken moved to Livermore, CA in the spring of 1987, where Brenda began a long and very successful career in information technology. Brenda helped install the first ISDN phone system at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and later started its first desktop support organization which provided computer support for over 1,000 people. Brenda eventually rose to the Deputy Associate Director’s level for Computations and ended her career as a Special Advisor to the Chief Information Officer of the Nuclear National Security Administration, U.S. Department of Energy, which she retired from in 2014.
Brenda and Ken went on many wonderful adventures. She loved the outdoors. She loved hiking, riding bicycles, cross-country skiing - especially cross-country skiing - and carriage driving with her horses. She loved to spend time with her pets. Brenda was very creative and passionate in all her endeavors, bringing her own special artistic flair to all she did. She enjoyed decorating and crafts. Brenda was generous to a fault and a wonderful hostess to her many guests. She left an enduring effect on all she met.
Brenda is survived by her mother, Marcie Opfer; her sisters, Sheryl Prestemon and Linda Beck; her husband, Ken Turteltaub; her sister-in-law, Cynda Opfer; her nieces, Becky Gesing and Shari Prestemon; her nephews, Brad Prestemon and Troy Beck; and her great-nieces and great-nephews.
Brenda left us all too early. While it was not our plan for her, God obviously had a more important one for her. She lives on in our wonderful memories of her beautiful life and through the people whose lives she helped shape, which are many.
Brenda was preceded in death by her father; her father-in-law, Edward Turteltaub; her mother-in-law, Midge Turteltaub; her brother, Bob Opfer; and her nephew, Merlin Gesing.
