CLETUS KOPPEN

BRUHN, KOPPEN, ROONEY, BRIES, EFFERDING, DOGOTCH

Posted By: Mary Durr (email)
Date: 7/9/2003 at 15:19:08

Cletus Koppen

Telegraph Herald - Sunday, June 1, 2003

ASBURY, Iowa - Cletus "Clete" Koppen, 77, of 5295 Valley Forge Road, Asbury, died Thursday, May 29, 2003, at home, surrounded by family and friends, after quietly and courageously battling cancer.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Resurrection Catholic Church. Burial will be in Resurrection Cemetery, Asbury, where military rites will be accorded by the American Legion Post 6, of Dubuque. Friends may call from 2 to 8 p.m. today at Egelhof, Siegert & Casper Westview Funeral Home, 2659 Kennedy Road, Dubuque, where there will be a wake service at 6:30 p.m.

Mr. Koppen dedicated 38 years of his life to education. He taught math, health and physical education classes at Fulton School for the Dubuque Community School District from 1950 to 1960. He then went on to be the Dubuque County Superintendent of Schools until 1975 when he became the Assistant Administrator and Director of Educational Services for Keystone Area Education Agency in Dubuque until his retirement in 1988.

He was born on Feb. 4, 1926, in Whittemore, son of Michael and Anne (Bruhn) Koppen. He married Geraldine "Jerry" Rooney on June 14, 1949, and they have lived in the Dubuque area ever since.

After he graduated from high school in 1943, he worked for the Milwaukee Railroad until 1944. He then joined the Navy until 1946, where he was a Seaman 1st Class AOM.

He received his bachelor of arts degree from Loras College in Dubuque in 1950. He completed his master of arts in 1958 from Catholic University of Washington.

He was a member of Holy Ghost Church and Resurrection Church, both in Dubuque, and St. John the Baptist Church, Peosta. He also was a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 510, the Dubuque Lions Club, the Dubuque Safety Council and a charter member of Thunder Hills Country Club, Peosta.

He loved spending time with his family and friends. His greatest desire was to see his grandchildren grow up. He enjoyed golf, fishing and winters in Texas. He was an avid fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes, Chicago Bears and Cubs and the New England Patriots.

Surviving are his wife, Jerry Koppen, of Dubuque; two sons, Mike (Kathy), of Apex, N.C., and Bill (Kim), of Missoula, Mont.; two daughters, Patty (John) Bries and Ann (Eric) Efferding, both of Dubuque; 11 grandchildren, Jen, David, Bill and Katie Bries, Chris, Leah and Dan Koppen, Lindsey and Jordan Koppen and Christine and Allison Efferding; a brother, Ralph (Sally) Koppen, of Whittemore; and a sister, Mary Ann (Frank) Dogotch, of Whittemore.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his stepmother; a brother; an infant son, Francis; and a granddaughter, Cally Koppen.

A Cletus H. Koppen Memorial Fund has been established.

The family was supported throughout Clete's illness by family and friends, and many prayers and acts of special kindness. Special thanks to Deacon Carl Adams, Renee, Sheila, Lynn and all involved Hospice staff and volunteers, Dr. Runde and Dr. Payne for Clete's excellent care.