Kopsa, Robert Eugene 1928-2014

KOPSA, KLAR, KELLY, BEACH, BEADLE

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 5/14/2014 at 10:11:41

Robert Eugene Kopsa

Robert Kopsa, 85, of Laurel died Wednesday, May 7, 2014, at Southridge Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. A service will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, May 10 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. A visitation will take place from 5 to 8 p.m.on Friday, May 9 at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home in Marshalltown, with a Prayer Vigil at 8 p.m. Robert will be laid to rest in Riverside Cemetery. For more information or to send a condolence please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call (641)844-1234. Mitchell Family Funeral Home is caring for Bob and his family.

Robert Eugene Kopsa was born Nov. 25, 1928, in rural Beaman to Josef and Anna (Klar) Kopsa. He was educated in a one-room schoolhouse in rural Grundy County and graduated from Marshalltown High School in 1947. Bob was a Master Sergeant in the Iowa Army National Guard, Company D, 168th Infantry, 34th Division, Red Bull Division.

Bob was united in marriage to Donna Rae Kelly on June 2, 1952, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Marshalltown. Together they farmed in the Marshalltown, Green Mountain, Vinton and Ferguson areas before moving to rural Laurel in 1969. In the fall of 2012, they moved to the Embers. Bob was also employed at Gra-Iron and Swifts in Marshalltown, and Tama Pack in Tama before retiring. He was a former Knights of Columbus member and a Boy Scout leader. Bob was also a member of the American Legion in Laurel. Bob loved farming. He was very proud of the fact his cattle topped the market three years in a row at the Tama Sale Barn. His passion for the soil continued after his retirement with the large gardens he planted every spring, with produce plenty enough for the entire county.

Bob took great pride in his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was a staple at many of their sporting events, plays and dance recitals. Bob lived to fulfill Father Sodawasser’s blessing for Bob and Donna at their wedding, “May you live to see your children’s children’s children.”

Robert is survived by his wife of 61 years, Donna; seven children, Sheila (Bob) Beach of Gilman, Gary (Kaye) of Newton, Matt (Julie) of Gilman, Pat (Kathy) of Laurel, Bill (Annette) of Gilman, Janet (Doug) Beadle of LeGrand and Kelly (Tabatha) of State Center; nineteen grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Robert was preceded in death by his parents; and son Mark. ~ The Newton Daily News, Newton, Iowa.