Gordon Kopecky obituary, 1924 - 2004

Gordon Gale Kopecky, 80, of Highmore, died Saturday, May 1, 2004, at the Faulk County Memorial Hospital in Faulkton. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 5, at the Church of Christ in Highmore, with Pastor Max Kelly officiating. Burial will be in the Bohemian National Cemetery, Highmore, with military honors. Gordon Kopecky was born April 26, 1924, in Highmore to Will and Mayme (Bouzek) Kopecky. He attended rural school in Eden Township. In 1938, he went to Brookings, where he attended two years of agricultural school, and then returned to the family farm. He married Winnie Morford December 9, 1944. May 12, 1945, he was drafted into the Marine Corps. He was stationed at Paris Island, S.C.; Camp Lajune, S.C.; and Camp Pendleton, Calif. At the end of World War II, he was stationed at Hastings, Neb. After is discharge, he returned the family farm until October 1996. Due to ill health, Gordon resided in Aberdeen until August of 2000, when he entered the Faulkton Health Care Center. He enjoyed farming, fishing, barn dances and spending time with his family. He was a member of the Richard Clement Post #299, Polo, and served on the Eden Township Board. He is survived by his wife Minnie, Highmore; nine children, Bonnie (Art) Wilson of Sturgis, Sharon (Dennis) Serfling of Aberdeen, Linda (Tom) Johannsen of Warner, Gary (Janet) Kopecky of Highmore, Jerry (Cindy) Kopecky of Faulkton, Judy (Don) Craft of Aberdeen, Kathy (Jim) Bitzenburg of Missouri, Ron Kopecky of Leola, and Leasa (Gerri) Ortmeier of Faulkton; 20 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren; one sister, Mary Jane Gadd of Highmore; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents; one granddaughter, Jodi Johannsen; and a brother-in-law, Gordon "Jap" Gadd.