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Todd W. Opperman, 42 of Temperance, MI, died Monday, December 18, 2017. Born on March 28, 1975 in Monroe, MI, he was the son of the late George Opperman and Patricia (Bressler) and Lehr Welch.

A 1993 graduate of St. Mary Catholic Central High School, he attended Adrian College on a football scholarship. Todd then graduated from the Police Academy of Washtenaw Community College in 1997 and the School of Police Staff and Command of Eastern Michigan University in 2010. A former Monroe County Sheriff’s deputy for over 15 years, Todd earned the ranks of Sergeant (2006), Lieutenant (2009), and Captain (2010) under Sheriff Tillman Crutchfield—the youngest Captain ever appointed in Monroe County. During his tenure, he was selected to serve as a member of the Special Response Team, a Defense Tactics Instructor, a Field Training Supervisor, and a Crisis Negotiator. He was honored by the department in 2008 as Command Officer of the Year. In 2009, Todd received the National Honor Award from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for his assistance in disrupting an international continuing criminal enterprise involving drugs, firearms, and murder of law enforcement officers. Since 2014, he served as Chief of Police for the Village of Dundee, MI. He was a member of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church, Temperance, MI. He enjoyed the outdoors and sports and collecting memorabilia, but most of all, spending time with his children.

Todd is survived by his loving children, Nicholas and Julia Opperman; parents, Patricia (Bressler) and Lehr Welch; brother, Scott Opperman; and cousins raised like siblings, Jason Watterson, Brad Watterson, and Amy (Watterson) Gilbert. He was preceded in death by his father, George Opperman; maternal grandparents, Raymond and Mary (Roberts) Bressler; paternal grandparents, Wilmer and Rose (King) Opperman; and step-paternal grandparents, Francis and Janice (Edelbrock) Welch.

Visitation will be from 5-8 pm on Tuesday, December 26 and from 2-8 pm, with a Scripture Service at 7:30 pm, on Wednesday, December 27 at the Michael W. Pawlak Funeral Home, 1640 Smith Rd. (at Jackman Rd.), Temperance, MI. On Thursday, December 28, he will lie in state from 10-11 am at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church, 8330 Lewis Ave., Temperance, MI. At 11 am, Father Brian Chabala, a family friend, will celebrate the Mass of Christian Burial. Interment will be private at St. Joseph Cemetery, Monroe, MI. Memorials may be made to his parents, Patricia and Lehr Welch, for funeral and burial expenses and the education of Todd’s children. www.pawlakfuneralhome.com