Ronald “Papa” Earl Kopp
KOPP, LANTER, BELL, DONAR, SCHRODERMIER, BREWNER, CORNWELL
Posted By: Sarah Fletcher (email)
Date: 8/28/2023 at 14:21:36
Ronald “Papa” Earl Kopp passed away on August 23, 2023, in the presence of his family at the University of Iowa Palliative Care Unit.
A visitation will be held on Tuesday, August 29, 2023, at Lensing’s Oak Hill location, 210 Holiday Rd, Coralville, IA from 1-2:30 PM followed immediately by a graveside service at Ridgewood Cemetery in North Liberty. Military honors provided by the American Legion and service officiated by family member Jim Donar of Faith Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the family to help with funeral expenses and care for Donna his wife, c/o Martha Donar.
Ron “Papa” Kopp was born to Earl and Adra (Lanter) Kopp on October 2, 1952, in Clinton, IL. He was one of eight children born to Earl and Adra. Ron was of Baptist faith. As a young man he enjoyed games with his siblings. He was a friendly and kind man liked and loved by many. Ron played football at Warrensburg-Latham High School (Warrensburg, IL) and his team went undefeated for all four years. Ron graduated from high school in 1972 and voluntarily enlisted in the Army. He served faithfully during the Vietnam Conflict and often talked about how much he loved his time in Germany. He was a proud Veteran who loved his country and his family.
Ron married Donna Bell on November 22, 1996, in Pekin, IL. The couple has one daughter, Martha. Ron was a hard worker from a young age he began farm work along with his father and brothers. Later he worked as an injection moulder for Rantoul Products in Rantoul, Illinois then DMI and Kalona Plastics before retiring in 2001. Ron and his wife moved to Iowa in 2000 to the Kalona area then to North Liberty, IA in 2020.
Ron’s love for football continued throughout his lifetime. He was an avid fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes as well as the Green Bay Packers, and enjoyed a friendly rivalry with other family members who disagreed.
Fishing at Lake MacBride and Lake Darling as well as cooking and baking were favorite pastimes. Ron’s specialty dish was liver and onions, and it was one of his final meals. Ron and his wife Donna enjoyed watching Western movies with John Wayne. The Beverly Hillbillies and MASH were some of his favorite TV shows. Ron also enjoyed the casino at Riverside, but in the last few years his favorite time of all was time spent with his only great-granddaughter Melinda Schrodermier playing on his computer as well as seeing and being with the rest of his family.
Ron is survived by his wife, Donna; daughter Martha and son-in-law Jeff Donar of Coralville; granddaughter Emily Bell of Iowa City; grandson Jason Bell of Coralville; grandson Jayden Donar of Coralville; great-grandchild Melinda Schrodermier of Iowa City; siblings Dean Kopp of Bement, IL, Barb Hammond of Bement, IL, Bev (Don) Brewner of Decatur, IL, Dennis Kopp of Decatur, IL, and Jim (Bridget) Kopp of Farmington, MO; and several nieces and nephews.
Ron was preceded in death by his parents; sister Sandra "Sandy" and brother-in-law Rod Cornwell; brother Thomas "Tom" Kopp; sister-in-law Kay (Dean) Kopp; and sister-in-law Alice (Jim) Kopp.
Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service
Johnson Obituaries maintained by Cindy Booth Maher.
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