From staff reports:

Longtime resident and community volunteer Ed Opstad died Aug. 21 at St. Francis Hospital in Federal Way. Opstad died from complications caused by idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a chronic and progressive lung disease. He was 77.

Those who knew Edwin Andrew Opstad praised his involvement in Federal Way life. Aside from serving as treasurer for the Federal Way Kiwanis and as past president for the Historical Society of Federal Way, Opstad was also a founding member of Seabury School and Washington State Bank. He served as treasurer for several local political campaigns over the years, often for Republican candidates, and was past High Priest of the Royal Arch Masons of Washington.

“He made it a point of being part of this community,” said friend Bob Kellogg at Wednesday’s meeting of the Federal Way Kiwanis, who honored Opstad with a moment of silence.

“To me, Ed Opstad was an officer and a gentleman,” said friend Jim Burbidge, describing Opstad’s personality, which was colored by a 25-year stint in the U.S. Army. Opstad married Shirley Thompson in 1956 after graduating from the University of Washington, then embarked on a military career that sent him to Oregon, Texas, the Pentagon, Germany, Thailand and Vietnam.

Following Shirley’s death in 2008, Opstad married Bette Simpson. He is survived by his wife along with four children, one stepson, 10 grandchildren and a sister.

Memorial services will be held at 1 p.m. Aug. 31 at Steel Lake Presbyterian Church, 1829 S. 308th St.