♥♥MY DADDY♥♥
♥♥I LOVE YOU♥♥

Son of the late John Koper & Katherine Dolecki Koper.
Irvin was the last of three children born to them on September 12th. Eddie was born September 12, 1914 & Margie was born September 12, 1920.

Grandson of Polish immigrants, Pawel Dolecki & Anna Kalinowski Dolecki.

Great grandson of Jan & MaryAnna Dolecki.

DADDY WAS A PROUD POLISH AMERICAN AND A PROUD ARMY VETERAN OF WORLD WAR II.

♥~Daddy's published obituary. I wrote it but I plan on writing a more personal story myself when I feel that I can.~ ♥

Irvin F. Koper, 82, a resident of Clinton Township for more than 30 years, died Wednesday, April 9, 2008, at Mount Clemens Regional Medical Center. He was born September 12, 1925, in Detroit to John and Katherine (Dolecki) Koper.

Irvin married Sophie Rosalind Kowalski on June 3, 1946 in a civil ceremony in Detroit, Michigan. On December 3, 1952, they were married in St. Hyacinth Catholic Church by Father Ladislaus Borowski.

Mr. Koper was a U.S. Army Veteran who served during World War II. He was a machine gunner in New Guinea and Southern Philippines. Among the medals he was awarded: the WWII VICTORY MEDAL, the ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL with 2 BRONZE BATTLE STARS, the PHILIPPINE LIBERATION RIBBON with 1 BRONZE STAR, 3 OVERSEAS SERVICE BARS and GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL. He also had an Expert Marksman Medal.

He was very proud of his Polish heritage.
He was also an avid Detroit Tigers fan who enjoyed gardening, fishing, hunting and woodworking.
He also loved his dogs, Vixen and Lucky.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Sophie; children, James (Anita), Darlene "Dolly", Sandra Dzwonik (Tom Gray), Irvin "Butch" (Faye) and Kim (John) Davis; grandchildren, Sherri Koper, Michael Dzwonik, Jason Koper, Katrina (Felipe)Hernandez and Monica Koper; step grandchildren, Dawn-Marie Badami and Philip Badami; great-grandchildren, Stephanie Pann, Nicole Badami, Briana Hernandez, Karina Aguirre and Diego Aguirre; siblings, Dorothy (Tony) Zuzga, Margie (the late Joe) Sliwinski, Raymond (Elvera) and Catherine (Ed) Cox; sister in law, Sally Koper and many nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his siblings, Helen (Joe) Stempien, Lottie (Harry) Nowakowski, Walter (Vera) Koper, Norbert (Virgie) Koper, Gertrude (Joe) Novak, John Koper, and Barney (Margie) Koper.

Pallbearers will be, family members: John Davis, Mike Dzwonik, Jason Koper, Felipe Hernandez; & friends: Frank Davis, & Russ Pierce.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Monday, April 14, 2008 at St. Hyacinth Catholic Church, 3151 Farnsworth, Detroit, with the Rev. Janusz Iwan officiating.

.♥♥♥♥MY DADDY'S EULOGY♥♥♥♥.

....By eldest grandchild, Sherri Koper (my husband, John Davis, helped her write it)....

"We all knew Grandpa was Proud to be Polish.
And we knew he loved hunting, fishing, and of course the Tigers.
But what really defined my Grandpa was his family.
To some he was IRV, Daddy, Uncle Irvin, and to my cousins and I, Grandpa Koper.
No matter what Grandpa did in life it was always with or for his family.
He grew a garden and gave away most of his crop.
He would take a deer and give away most of the venison; I loved those venison sticks that he first talked me into trying.
He made beautiful wooden crafts and instead of selling them at a show he gave them away to his family and friends; as many of you know.
If you needed something he was there with the right tool; my Aunt Dolly always said there wasn't anything he couldn't fix or do.
Often gave some (colorful) advice that NEVER made you feel like a fool.

For all of us Grandpa was family and a friend; always someone you could turn too.

He was a proud World War II Vet, always LOVED to dance to a POLKA, he was an Outdoorsman, a Machinist, a Woodworker, a PROUD POLE, an Animal LOVER, and an AVID Tigers fan; no matter if they were winning or loosing!

Grandpa will always be remembered as a Husband, a Father, a Grandfather, a Great Grandfather, a Brother, an Uncle, and so much more!

Dear Grandpa You will ALWAYS be in our HEARTS♥
We will miss you FOREVER and MORE!"

*************************

Since Daddy loved the Detroit Tigers so much, he wore a Tiger jersey and had his favorite hat.

All of his pallbearers wore Tiger jerseys, too.
All of us children & other family members that weren't pallbearers honored Daddy by wearing Tiger jerseys or something else Tiger related.
Even the funeral director wore a Tigers lapel pin.
As Daddy left the Church, the organist played, "Take Me Out To The Ball Game".

Daddy would've loved it & been so proud.

After that, during the Military Honors, you could hear pheasants calling out. It was so wonderful because my Daddy loved when my husband & I raised pheasants. He also used to hunt them as a young man. Plus, we were in the middle of Poletown (Detroit), which now has a very large pheasant population.

Daddy's Star