Granton Honored Citizens bring community together

For many years, Brad and Darlene Opelt have been at the heart of the Granton community. Owning and operating Mapleworks Café for almost 15 years, the couple has supported the village not only through their business operations, providing residents and visitors a welcoming place to gather, but through taking part in events to enrich the community and further bring people together. It is for these reasons that the Granton FFA has selected them as this year’s Honored Citizens.

The couple was nominated for the award by Gary and Roxy Eibergen.

“We would like to nominate Brad and Darlene Opelt for the Granton Honored Citizens this year in honor of the many years they have served the Granton community,” they wrote in the nomination letter. “For many years they were actively involved in supporting Granton athletics, both by leading the Athletic Boosters and coaching. We could always count on Brad and Darlene to say yes for any community fundraising event by providing donations,

Please see Opelts, page 10 allowing posters to be put up in their restaurant and selling raffle tickets on behalf of community organizations like the fire department.”

The Opelts have long been a part of the Granton community. Brad is a native of Granton, who graduated from Granton High School in 1974. His wife Darlene is from Minnesota. Brad first went to school for welding, but met Darlene in Minnesota when he went to school there to earn an associate’s degree in counseling while she went to school to get training to become a chef. The two of them came back to Granton in 1994 and were married in 2002.

Together, the couple raised three children: Jason Hanuszczak, Callie Blum, and Josh Opelt. They also have six grandchildren: Braydon and Meadow Beckstead and Jose, Nolan, and Archer Hanuszczak.

Outside of family life, the Opelts have had an active role in many of the goings-on around Granton. In 2011, they made the decision to buy Mapleworks Café, continuing the business’ legacy as a central hub of gathering for those who pass through the village.

“I worked at the Bethel nursing center in Arpin for 15 years,” said Darlene. “I enjoyed that, but it was time for a change. I saw the opportunity to buy the café and Brad got the ball rolling.”

For the next 14-and-a-half years, Brad and Darlene ran the café, providing food and a gathering place for everyone who came through their doors.

“It was nice to be able to have people meet at the café, hear their stories, and see families getting together,” said Darlene. “It was always nice to be able to be the place to bring people together. Everybody knows everybody, so when you enter into the café, you have a sort of family.”

While they worked, the Opelts took part in other activities to enrich the community and encourage the next generation in their talents. They were sponsors for the Athletic Boosters Club and members of the organization for several years, with Brad serving as president and Darlene serving as secretary. Brad also volunteered as a coach for the summer Little League and Pee Wee leagues and coached fourth and fifth grade girls and boys basketball.

Brad also serves as the president of the Southern Clark County Sportsman’s Club, which provides funds to ensure the Granton pond is stocked with fish every year. The Opelts also donate to the Granton Fall Festival, and Granton Fire Department and First Responders, along with providing popsicles for the Little League and Pee Wee leagues during their games. The Opelts recently retired from operating the café and are now enjoying retirement.

Both Brad and Darlene said they were very grateful to be selected as the 2025 Honored Citizens and hope that the next generation continues to be inspired by the work done by others in the community to take up the torch and make Granton a nice place to live.

“It’s very much an honor,” said Darlene. “It’s a very nice surprise. I hope that the next generation participates in things that bring the community together. It’s a great little town.”