koopmans, Dustin 1980-2004

KOOPMANS, TAPPER

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 8/26/2014 at 18:27:23

Hawarden Independent Ireton Examiner September 30, 2004

Dustin (Dusty) Koopmans Dustin Koopmans, 24, of rural Ireton died Monday, Sept. 20,2004 at the Creighton University Medical Center in Omaha, Neb. Funeral Service was Sept. 24 at the St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Ireton with Rev. Todd Bunge officiating. Burial followed hi the Pleasant Hill Cemetery at Ireton. Porter Funeral Home of Ireton assisted the family with arrangements.

Dustin John Koopmans was born May 3, 1980 in Sioux Center the son Arven and Patti (Tapper) Koopmans. He was baptized and confirmed in St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Ireton and was an active member of the Parish, where he taught Sunday School. He attended West Sioux Community School and graduated in 1999.

His love of life was celebrated in many ways. Riding snowmobiles with his friends in the winter months, cruising on his Harley in the summer, dirt bike racing and water skiing, sand volleyball, playing softball, shooting a game of pool and actively racing and rolling demolition cars with his friends around the farm yard. He also collected toy tractors and trucks. He enjoyed going to Taylor-Martin Truck Sales and always read the "Truck Paper". He loved the open road and in 1998 he bought his first semi tractor-trailer at the age of 17. He purchased his farm "The Ponderosa" in 1999. His adventures took him into the trucking business in the year 2000 owning and operating as Dustar Express with his father Arven.

Dusty was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in October of 1996 at the age of 16. He was a recipient of the Make-A-Wish Foundation in 1998 in which he was awarded a set of tools that he used on his trucks daily. Dusty greeted each day with a smile and spread his joy to everyone he met. He touched the hearts of many nurses on the 5100 floor and all other staff members at Creighton University Medical Center during the course of his treatments over the years. He enjoyed their foot massages and getting anything he wanted. He never gave up on life and though he was limited after his diagnosis, he continued to try to participate to the fullest in every sport he could. He was loved by a wonderful family and one of his duties was to look out for his younger sisters "the girlies.". His nickname was "Flash."

Survivors include his parents, Arven and Patti Koopmans; his brother, Austin and his fiance Brenda Engels,; his twin sisters, Lindsey and Ali; grandmother, Leona Koopmans; special friend Holly; God children, Kamryn Rus and Luke Tapper; and numerous uncles, aunts and cousins. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Henry Koopmans and Elmer and Norma Tapper.