1935
Shirley
2016
Shirley Koppa
April 10, 1935 — October 8, 2016
Shirley Koppa, 81, of the Town of Rib Mountain passed away on Saturday, October 8, 2016 surrounded by her family at Aspirus Hospice House.
She was born April 10, 1935 in Wausau to the late Robert and Erna (Gritzmacher) Kohnhorst. Shirley was a 1954 graduate of Wausau Senior High School. In 1954 she also met Lyle Koppa, a handsome young man, at a local dance hall. The two have enjoyed dancing and celebrating their life and family together ever since. In 1955 Shirley graduated from the Milwaukee School of Beauty Culture and moved back to Wausau, Shirley was an instructor at the State College of Beauty Culture. She taught there for over twenty seven years retiring in 1994. On May 3, 1958, Shirley married Lyle at St. Paul's Catholic Church, Mosinee. Being surrounded by their nine children and many grandchildren was the their greatest joy. They were also extremely proud that all nine children were college graduates. Lyle and Shirley are members of Holy Name Catholic Church with Shirley belonging to St. Catherine's Council. She was also a member of the Catholic Women's Council and the Marathon County Homemaker's Club. Shirley loved the color Red, with her favorite bird being the Cardinal. She enjoyed traveling, berry picking, sewing, knitting, crocheting, gardening, canning and cake decorating.
Survivors include her husband, Lyle of Rib Mountain, eight children, Lyle John (Brenda) Koppa of Oconto, Pamela Thompson of Rib Mountain, Valerie (James) Bradfish of Mosinee, Diane (Scott) Whitney of Colorado Springs, CO, Charlene Orsted of Madison, Shelly (Robert) McClelland of Powell, OH, Dennis Koppa of Coffeeville, KS, Wayne Koppa of Minneapolis, MN, eighteen grandchildren, Justin, Joel, and Jordan Koppa, Shane and Sara Thompson, Michael (Audrey) Bradfish, Jared and Ashley Bradfish, Erika, Ben and Krystle Whitney, Amelia Horn, Lars Orsted, Grace, John, Regan, Max and Abby McClelland, two great grandchildren, Edmond and Riley, and two sisters, Beverly (Albert) Bradford of Weston and Janet (Allen) Michlig of Rib Mountain. Shirley was preceded in death by her son, Brian, son-in-laws Kim Walter Thompson and Jim Orsted and sister and brother-in-law, Carol and Emil Untiedt.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, October 12, 2016 at Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church, 1104 S. 9th Ave, Wausau. Father Dan Thelen will officiate. Entombment will be in Holy Angels Mausoleum at St. Michael's Catholic Cemetery, Wausau. Visitation will be at the Helke Funeral Home, 302 Spruce St. Wausau on Tuesday from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. with a parish rosary prayed at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will resume Wednesday at the church from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service.
You may sign our family guest book at helke.com.
She was born April 10, 1935 in Wausau to the late Robert and Erna (Gritzmacher) Kohnhorst. Shirley was a 1954 graduate of Wausau Senior High School. In 1954 she also met Lyle Koppa, a handsome young man, at a local dance hall. The two have enjoyed dancing and celebrating their life and family together ever since. In 1955 Shirley graduated from the Milwaukee School of Beauty Culture and moved back to Wausau, Shirley was an instructor at the State College of Beauty Culture. She taught there for over twenty seven years retiring in 1994. On May 3, 1958, Shirley married Lyle at St. Paul's Catholic Church, Mosinee. Being surrounded by their nine children and many grandchildren was the their greatest joy. They were also extremely proud that all nine children were college graduates. Lyle and Shirley are members of Holy Name Catholic Church with Shirley belonging to St. Catherine's Council. She was also a member of the Catholic Women's Council and the Marathon County Homemaker's Club. Shirley loved the color Red, with her favorite bird being the Cardinal. She enjoyed traveling, berry picking, sewing, knitting, crocheting, gardening, canning and cake decorating.
Survivors include her husband, Lyle of Rib Mountain, eight children, Lyle John (Brenda) Koppa of Oconto, Pamela Thompson of Rib Mountain, Valerie (James) Bradfish of Mosinee, Diane (Scott) Whitney of Colorado Springs, CO, Charlene Orsted of Madison, Shelly (Robert) McClelland of Powell, OH, Dennis Koppa of Coffeeville, KS, Wayne Koppa of Minneapolis, MN, eighteen grandchildren, Justin, Joel, and Jordan Koppa, Shane and Sara Thompson, Michael (Audrey) Bradfish, Jared and Ashley Bradfish, Erika, Ben and Krystle Whitney, Amelia Horn, Lars Orsted, Grace, John, Regan, Max and Abby McClelland, two great grandchildren, Edmond and Riley, and two sisters, Beverly (Albert) Bradford of Weston and Janet (Allen) Michlig of Rib Mountain. Shirley was preceded in death by her son, Brian, son-in-laws Kim Walter Thompson and Jim Orsted and sister and brother-in-law, Carol and Emil Untiedt.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, October 12, 2016 at Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church, 1104 S. 9th Ave, Wausau. Father Dan Thelen will officiate. Entombment will be in Holy Angels Mausoleum at St. Michael's Catholic Cemetery, Wausau. Visitation will be at the Helke Funeral Home, 302 Spruce St. Wausau on Tuesday from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. with a parish rosary prayed at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will resume Wednesday at the church from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service.
You may sign our family guest book at helke.com.
Visitation
Helke Funeral Home and Cremation Services302 Spruce Street
Wausau, WI 54401
Tuesday, October 11, 2016
4:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Service
Holy Name of Jesus Parish1104 S. 9th Avenue
Wausau, WI 54401
Wednesday, October 12, 2016
11:00 AM
Cemetery
St. Michael's CemeteryWausau, WI
Wednesday, October 12, 2016
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