Eileen Kopp

ALICE EILEEN KOPP was born on March 16, 1923 to Ingolf and Alma (Halverson) Sunde on the Harter Hovde farm in Minnehaha County, Logan Township, near Dell Rapids, SD. She moved with her parents to Rock County, near Kenneth, MN when she was only about six months old. She attended elementary school in Kenneth and high school in Luverne, graduating in 1941. She then attended St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN for one year. Eileen was employed by Cargill, Inc. in Minneapolis and Wayzata, MN and finally at Marietta, PA. While in Pennsylvania, she met and was later united in marriage to Walter Heilman Kopp on December 22, 1951 at Kenneth Lutheran Church. Following their marriage the couple lived near Goldsboro, PA for five years. In the fall of 1956 they moved to Eileen’s parents’ farm and raised their five children while farming. In 1971, Eileen became employed by the Magnolia Public School in the school office and continued to work there until her retirement on June 30, 1990. In 2004, the couple moved off the farm and into Luverne, MN. Eileen remained active serving on many boards and doing volunteer work. On Sunday, December 30, 2012, she died peacefully with family by her side at the Sanford Luverne Hospice Cottage at the age of 89 years, nine months and 14 days.

Eileen was a member of Kenneth Lutheran Church where during her life she served as a Sunday School teacher, ladies aid officer, ALCW conference officer, women of ELCA conference officer and sang in the Kenneth Choir. She also served as a 4-H club leader, Magnolia School Mother’s Club, R.S.V.P. (volunteer), and on the Rock County Historical Board and Rock County Senior Citizens Board. Eileen enjoyed quilting, reading, taking trips with her grandchildren to Hot Springs, South Dakota and Pennsylvania, and making cookies with her great-grandchildren.

She is lovingly remembered by her husband of 61 years, Walter; five children, Timothy (Becky) of Renton, WA, Jonathan (Peggy) of Kenneth, Thomas (Marlene) of Luverne, Daniel (Pam) of Luverne, and Kristine (Daniel) of Fulda, MN; 15 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Ralph Sunde of Luverne, and Dave (Kay) Sunde of Preston, MN; and other family and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Ruth James and Avis Schroeder; two brothers, Mervin Sunde and Burnell Sunde.