Arlen Opper was very sick, but he wasn’t about to miss a meeting of the tribal council of the United Auburn Indian Community.
Opper, who died Tuesday at 68 following a battle with esophageal cancer, had been instrumental in helping to build Thunder Valley Casino Resort for the tribe near Lincoln. A business he led, Capital Casino Partners, put up early money for the construction project. He maintained impeccable attendance at tribal council meetings thereafter, according to colleagues and family.
This included a tribal council meeting that Opper attended via Zoom less than two weeks ago when it had become difficult for him to speak and he had little energy.
