Gordon Clyde Hopper (1930-2018)
HOPPER, MAYBERRY, DRAKE, TAPSCOTT, COOK, TRAUB
Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 5/17/2021 at 16:53:12
Obituary From Adams Soderstrum Funeral Home, Story County, Iowa.
Gordon Hopper 87, of Ames, passed away March 25, at his home in Ames. A Celebration of Life will be 10:30 – 11:30am Wednesday, March 28, at Adams Funeral Home in Ames.
Gordon Clyde Hopper was born November 1, 1930 to parents Clyde and Margaret (Mayberry) Hopper. As a young man, he was drafted by the Army and spent 18 months in Germany. Gordon married Barbara Louise Drake in 1953 in Irvington, NY. They had 4 children: Steven, Susan, Sharon and Gordon Scott. He received a B.S. degree in 1954 from Western Illinois University, M.S. in Education Administration from Macomb, Ed.S. from University of Illinois, and Ed.D. in Counseling and Guidance from Northern University in 1966. He taught at Iowa State University for 30 years. Gordon and Jan Tapscott married in December 1978. Jan recalls her father-in-law Clyde keenly concluding (with an impish grin on his face), “You know, Jan, GOLF is really Gordon’s 1st love.” He spent many seasons perfecting his game and shot 7 Holes-In-One. His crowning achievement, though, was a 6-birdie streak. He shared a passion for hunting golf balls with his grandkids and taught them to drive the fastest golf cart on Veenker course.
He found great joy in his canine companions Riley & Daisy, and had a special affinity for Riley’s healing licks. He enjoyed Wednesday coffee group at Dutch Oven and every other week poker games with his fellow poker bums. He was a skilled pheasant hunter and craftsman. He enjoyed helping neighbors and extended family with home renovation projects. He had great pride in growing tomatoes and green beans in his home garden. Gordon had a reputation of being a rascal. His impish grin endeared many. He also grudgingly accepted the accuracy of being called a curmudgeon by some special friends and his wife.
Gordon is survived by wife Jan Hopper; 3 children: Steve Hopper, Susan Drake, Scott Hopper, step-daughter Katie (Dave) Cook, son-in-law Jeff Traub; 14 grandchildren: Harmony, Noelle, Ashlyn, Lynde, Breanne, Chelsey, Jake, Zac, Kylie, Kristine, Samantha, Gage, Peyton, Ella; 7 great-grandchildren: October, Ashton, Xavier, Piper, Bentley, Myles, and baby girl Kochel and brother, Merlin Hopper.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Barbara, daughter Sharon Traub, and granddaughter Jocelyn Traub.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Heartland Senior Services, 205 S. Walnut Ave
Ames, IA 50010. Online condolences and photos may be left at adamssoderstrum.com
http://www.adamssoderstrum.com/
Story Obituaries maintained by Mark Christian.
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