William Kopp
William Otto Kopp was born Oct. 20, 1927, on the James Ranch in Hamilton County.
He was baptized Nov. 27, 1927 by Rev. K. Roth at Trinity Lutheran Church, Pottsville. He was confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church on April 18, 1943.
His confirmation verse was John 8:31-32, “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, if ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
In 1936, his father, John Kopp, became very ill. He took William to the side and said, “You will have to take care of your mother, brother and sister.”
William went on to attend a country school near Merkel. He graduated high school from Cranfills Gap. He was called to service duty with the Army on Sept. 22, 1950, where he was trained at Aberdeen, Maryland. He went into the service as an Army tank mechanic and was discharged on Aug. 22, 1952.
On a visit to his uncle’s house he met Valeria Riewe. They later married on May 30, 1953.
After living in Fort Worth for about two years, William was hired at Dow Chemical in Freeport. They made the move to Freeport in October 1955. They had two children Gleda and Nathan. William became very active in their home church, Grace Lutheran in Freeport. He served in many capacities at the church.
In 1989, after Grace Lutheran closed their doors they moved their membership to St. Mark in Lake Jackson where he remained.
William has spent the last six months of his life in severe back pain. He bravely endured his illness and fought the good fight until the day the Lord called him home on Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019.
He leaves behind a daughter Gleda and husband Victor Krueger of West Columbia; son Nathan and wife Linda of Manor; grandchildren Bryce Krueger, Alaina Vogel and fiancée Cedric Choice of Sweeny; great-grandchildren Jeremiah Vogel of Brazoria and Abrianna Vogel of Sweeny; sister Rosalie Berry of Lubbock; sister-in-law Mildred Riewe of League City; many nieces and nephews and a host of friends that he loved and thanked the Good Lord for having them.
He is preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Valeria (Riewe) Kopp, parents John and Clara (Meissner) Kopp and his brother, Milton Kopp.
Pallbearers are Don Huffman, John Meiller, Roy Hicks, Kenny Lamb, Cedric Choice and Jeremiah Vogel.
Funeral services were Sunday, Jan. 13, at 4 p.m. at St. Mark Lutheran in Lake Jackson. Burial was Tuesday, Jan. 15, at 11 a.m. in Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery in Pottsville.
Memorials may be given to St. Mark building fund, 501 Willow Dr., Lake Jackson, TX 77566.
