Obit: Bopp, Richard DeRoy (1915 – 2008)
Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Bopp, Helwig, Fencil, Randall, Bowen, Van Vleet, Kellar, Sheffer, Erickson

----Source: Banner Journal (Black River Falls, Jackson Co., WI.) December 31, 2008

Bopp, Richard DeRoy (16 February 1915 – 23 December 2008)

Richard DeRoy Bopp, 93, of Alma Center, died Dec. 23, 2008, at St. Joseph’s Hospital in St. Paul, MN.

Richard was born Feb. 16, 1915, on the home farm in the township of Garden Valley, Jackson County, to William and Clara (Helwig) Bopp.

Richard graduated from Alma Center High School in the Class of 1932. He married Violet Fencil Feb. 28, 1944. The marriage took place at the Methodist parsonage in Black River Falls. To this union one daughter, Jean, was born.

The newlyweds lived on the family farm in the North Branch area of Garden Valley. He continued to actively farm until 1996. In 1998 the Bopp’s moved to a home in Alma Center.

Richard was an avid reader and a Packer fan and baseball enthusiast. Time for food and conversation with friends was always a welcome diversion.

Richard was a farmer with many community contributions that included years as a 4-H leader, a member of the Garden Valley Town Board, on the REC board for many years and being active in the United Methodist Church in Alma Center. He served on the cemetery boards of the Stanford Cemetery and East Lawn Cemetery.

Richard is survived by his wife of 64 years, Violet; a daughter, Jean (Mahlon) Randall of Bigfork, MT; and a grandson, Donald (Wanda) Randall of Mahtomedi, MN. In addition, he is survived by three nieces, Alice (Nick) Bowen, Vivian Van Vleet and Kathy Kellar; two nephews, Ken (Lou) Sheffer and Arnold (Mae) Bopp, as well as many grandnieces and grandnephews.

In addition to his parents, Richard was preceded in death by a brother, Vern (Lois) Bopp; a sister, Orva (Ralph) Sheffer; and an infant grandson, John M. Randall.

Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 27, 2008, at the United Methodist Church in Alma Center with Rev. Meg Erickson officiating. Burial was in the East Lawn Cemetery. Friends called from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday at the Jensen-Modjeski Funeral Home in Hixton and at the church one hour prior to services Saturday.