Lorraine E. (Phillips) Abitz Kopp 1921-2011

ABITZ, KOPP, RHEEL, PHILLIPS, SCHMITT, LAMPE, WEBER, ELLIOTT, WINDERS, ODELL, MILLER, LANG, REVENIG

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 12/24/2015 at 23:13:57

Lorraine E. Abitz Kopp, 90, of Sunset Park Place, formerly of 1696 Hickson St., passed peacefully into the hands of the Lord at 8:07 a.m. Thursday, July 21, 2011, at Stonehill Care Center, of natural causes.

Services will be at 9 a.m. Monday, July 25, at St. Anthony's Catholic Church. Burial will be in Linwood Cemetery. To celebrate Lorraine's life, friends may call from 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday, July 24, at Behr Funeral Home, 1491 Main St., where there will be a parish wake service at 1 p.m.

Lorraine was born on May 7, 1921, in Dubuque, the sixth child of Willis and Alta (Rheel) Phillips. She graduated in 1939 from Dubuque Senior High School. Upon graduating, she was employed as secretary to Wilfred Johannsen, principal of Washington Jr. High School.

She married Joseph W. Abitz on Jan. 11, 1943, and moved to San Francisco, where Joseph was stationed in the Army. They returned to Dubuque in July 1944. Joseph preceded her in death on May 17, 1989.

Lorraine worked at Miller Radio & TV, serving as a secretary, bookkeeper and salesperson. For the last 16 years of her employment, she was a microwave demonstrator and microwave teacher, retiring in 1983.

She later married Donald Kopp on Feb. 6, 1993. They spent 12 winters in Mesa, Ariz. Donald preceded her in death on July 9, 2005.

She was a very devout Christian and a longtime member of St. Anthony's Catholic Church, where she served on the Rosary Society, was a eucharistic minister and lector. Lorraine was a member of St. Anne's Circle of St. Anthony's and volunteered at the Discovery Shop for 14 years. For more than 50 years, she was a member of C.D.A., Chapter 1287 and held two terms as Grand Regent. For 37 years, she was a member of KOPS of TOPS IA 1028. She also was a member of Christian Women's Club of Dubuque, Barn Community Theater, 62 plus Club, Hawkeye Gold Club, Mercy Silver Advantage, Eagle's Club and the YWCA.

Lorraine traveled extensively with the Friendship Force. She was a diehard Cubs fan.

Surviving are a son, James (Patrica) Abitz, of Dubuque; six daughters, Janet (Lynn) Schmitt-Lampe, of Dubuque, Joan Yambura, of Tampa, Fla., Jeanne (Randy) Weber, of Bellevue, Iowa, Jolaine (Rick) Elliott, of Auburn, Wash., Jane (Steve) Winders, of Baton Rouge, La., and Jennifer Abitz, of Bernard, Iowa; 16 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; a brother-in-law, Leo Abitz, of Dubuque; Don's children, Dennis (Leta) Kopp, of Rockville, Md., DiAnn (Roger) O'Dell, of California, and Deb Ernzen, of Scottsdale, Ariz.

She also was preceded in death by her parents; four sisters; Evelyn (Leo) Miller, Gladys (Robert) Lang, Vera (Edward) McGinnis and Dorothy (Don) Revenig; and three brothers, Virgil "Bud" (Dorothy), Lloyd (Darlene) and James Phillips, in infancy.

A Lorraine Abitz Kopp Memorial has been established.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.behrfuneralhome.com.

The family would like to extend a special thank-you to the staff at Stonehill Care Center and her many friends and staff at Sunset Park Place for their kindness and caring for Lorraine.

Telegraph Herald (Dubuque, IA) - Saturday, July 23, 2011