Brenda Turteltaub

Brenda Sue Turteltaub left us too early on Sunday, Nov 25, 2016, at Lake Almanor, CA. As per her wishes, she has been cremated. A memorial service will be held Saturday, April 22, 2017 at 2:00 PM at Zalmona Presbyterian Church in rural Waukon, IA, with a visitation one hour before the service. Burial will be in the church cemetery.  Memorials can be given to local animal rescues or Zalmona Presbyterian Church in Waukon, IA. Martin Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements.

She was born in Waukon, IA, on May 1, 1962, to Marcie and Edward "Jim" Opfer. Brenda 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 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 1000 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, US Dept. 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, 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; sister-in-law Cynda Opfer; her nieces Becky Gesing and Shari Prestemon; her nephews Brad Prestemon and Troy Beck; and her great-nieces and -nephews. Brenda was preceded in death by her father Edward Opfer; father-in-law Edward Turteltaub; mother-in-law Midge Turteltaub; her brother Bob Opfer; and nephew Merlin Gesing.

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.