James Phillip Kopke - 1924-1948

KOPKE, BEEMAN

Posted By: Connie Ellis (email)
Date: 1/11/2011 at 22:19:07

SOURCE: Waukon, Iowa newspaper between April 18 and May 1, 1948
Contributor: Connie Ellis (Not related)

No inquest will be held into the gunshot death of James Phillip Kopke, age 23, graduate student at Iowa State College, Ames, Iowa it was announced today by Story county authorities who termed the death accidental. News of the fatal shooting in a college rooming house Sunday night reached Mrs. Cora (Beeman) Kopke of Waukon, Iowa, the young man's mother, shortly after the accident.

Story County coroner, Guy Mills, said a .45 caliber automatic revolver was accidentally discharged when it brushed Kopke's belt as he playfully wrestled with another student, Gerry McGraw, age 19, of Chicago, Illinois. The bullet entered the young man's stomach with death resulting 12 minutes later. James died on April 18, 1948.

James Kopke was born on September 27, 1924 at Manila, Phillipine Islands. When a youth he came to Waukon with his mother and they made their home with her uncle, I.E. Beeman. He attended the Waukon Public schools, graduating in 1943. Next June he would have completed the chemical engineer's course at Iowa State college and had a position awaiting him in Texas. James was regarded as an outstanding student during his high school and college careers. He was a member of the college band at Ames. The musical organization to which James belongs at the State college plans to attend the service as a group. James was an expert swimmer and served as guard and instructor at the local swimming pool last summer.

James was physically disqualified as a soldier in WWII but determined to be of service to his country, secured employment in the Lockheed aircraft factory at Burbank, California.

Surviving are his grief-stricken mother and other relatives, among them his mother's three uncles, I.E. Beeman and Fred L. Beeman both of Waukon, Iowa and Carl Beeman of Kasson, Minnesota.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday afternoon from the I.E. Beeman home to the Methodist church, conducted by the Rev. W.H. Mitchell. Burial will follow in the Oakland cemetery.