Eugene ‘Gene’ Francis Kopp, age 95, of Anita, passed away on Monday, October 30, 2023, at the Heritage House in Atlantic, IA.
Eugene Francis Kopp was born May 6, 1928, at the family farm south of Anita, the son of Frank and Frances (Berg) Kopp. He attended rural school and graduated from Anita High School in 1946. After graduation, he started farming until he entered the Army in 1952 and was stationed at Camp Roberts in California and the Panama Canal Zone. Gene resumed farming after he was discharged from the Army in 1954. He married Rosalie Alma Scholl at St. Mary’s Catholic Church on June 4, 1949. They are the parents of Bethel Gene, Kelvin Joseph, Beverly Ann, Delmar Francis, and Mark Lee.
Gene was a grain farmer and had a cow herd and fed out the calves. He looked forward to his trip to the Sand Hills of Nebraska to buy feeder calves each fall. He raised hogs, sheep, and fed out feeder lambs from Texas. Gene was one of the first farmers in Cass County to practice ‘No-Till’ farming. He was an active member of St. Mary’s Catholic church in Anita, lifetime member of American Legion Post 210, VFW Post 8766, and Crestwood Hills Golf Course. He enjoyed having his private pilot license.
In 1963, Gene and Rosalie established the Anita Feed Service, Inc. It was the beginning of farmers using commercial fertilizer and chemicals, which they sold. They also bought and sold grain. In 1992, they sold the business and retired.
They enjoyed many vacations and traveling, both foreign and domestic, with family and friends. His hobbies were golfing, bicycling, time on the computer, puzzles, reading, and last but not least, his Grandchildren. He was an avid fan of Notre Dame and Creighton.
Gene was preceded in death by his parents and siblings: Helen Daume, John Kopp, Jane Stangl, George Kopp, and Romona Kopp, Daughter-In-Law, Denise Kopp.
Survived by his wife, Rosalie Kopp, children, Dr. Bethel Kopp (Dr. Stephen Gruba), Kelvin Kopp, Beverly Johnson (Lynn), Delmar Kopp (Kim), and Mark Kopp (Jenna). Grandchildren: Eugene Johnson (Rachel), Matthew Johnson, Emily Kopp (Tom Ferrell), Dr. Benjamin Kopp (Susan), Kara Petersen (Jed), Nick Kopp (Preslee), Rosalie Kopp (fiance Anthony Rodicia), Reagen Kopp, Manda Kopp and Josh Rye. Seven great-grandchildren and sister-in-law, Phyllis Scholl
Open visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., with the family present from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 2, 2023, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Anita.
A prayer service will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, also at St. Mary’s, with Fr Al Sherbo conducting.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, November 3, 2023, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Anita, IA, with Fr Trevor Chicoine as the celebrant. Interment will take place following the mass with military honors from the Iowa Military Funeral Honors and Anita Post 210 at Evergreen Cemetery in Anita. A luncheon will be held at the Anita Community Center following the committal service.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Anita Fire & EMS for their new ambulance fundraiser or the fundraiser for the new park shelter project in Bandshell Park in Anita. Memorials may be mailed to the Schmidt Family Funeral Home P.O. Box 523, Atlantic, IA 50022.
Schmidt Family Funeral Home of Anita is handling the arrangements.
