John or Jan as his parents named him-the Polish version, a Polish immigrant, was the son of farmers, Jakub Koper & Marianna Domagala Koper. His mother lived to the age of 105, through both World Wars, by living in caves to survive.
John immigrated to the United States & Michigan's Poletown with his brother, Jozef & his wife, & their Uncle Franciszek Koper.
John Koper married Katarzyna Dolecki on September 6, 1909, in Detroit, Michigan in Sweetest Heart of Mary Catholic Church, where Katherine was a parishioner since her baptism at a few days old. The Dolecki Family were one of the Sweetest Heart's founding families.
A longtime resident of Detroit, John passed away at a hospital in Indiana, while staying with his daughter Helen Stempien & her family, in Coldwater, Michigan.
Even though John was not a U.S. citizen at the time, he did register for the WWI Draft on June 5, 1917. He was never asked to serve, instead he worked at Ford Motor Company & raised a large Polish Catholic family who very active in St Hyacinth Church.
Five of his sons, Walter, John, Barney, Raymond, & Irvin, would go on to proudly serve their country in World War II. He had grandsons go off to the Korean & Vietnam Wars. The younger generation has continued to serve their country, too.
John's family was his main priority & they were always happy. He was known to boast, "that he was richer than Henry Ford", when it came to his family.
Times weren't always easy & he worked at Ford prior to the UAW, so he did not retire from Ford.
That particular plant went on to be UAW Local 400. The same local I am a member of & so are 2 of Grandpa's great grandchildren & my husband. I like the irony.
Grandpa worked at a couple of different factories prior to his retirement from McCord Radiator.
Playing cards, especially poker, was always a Koper family past time & still is to this day. It has long been a family joke about the similarities between the word "poker" & our family name of Koper. The majority of the Kopers are even buried with a deck of cards.
Another thing the Kopers love is their beer.
My older cousin was just telling us how Grandpa used to send him to the corner store with his wagon to pick up his beer. He said it was a thrill to be able to go up to the store get it for him.
Two of John's sons ended up owning bars after their Pa's death & made good livings at it.
He was predeceased by his dear wife Katherine, 2 sons Antoni & Edward, & a grandson, Norbert Koper, Jr.
Dear Pa (as they called him) of Helen (Joe) Stempien, Lottie (Harry) Nowakowski, Walter (Vera) Koper, Norbert (Virgie) Koper, Dorothy (Tony) Zuzga, Gertrude (Joe) Novak, Margret (Joe) Sliwinski, John (Sally) Koper, Raymond (Elvera) Koper, Barney (Margie) Koper, Irvin (Sophia) Koper, Catherine (Tom) Palmer.
Proud Grandfather of 39, 13 granddaughters & 26 grandsons.
Great Grandfather of many.
John or Jan as his parents named him-the Polish version, a Polish immigrant, was the son of farmers, Jakub Koper & Marianna Domagala Koper. His mother lived to the age of 105, through both World Wars, by living in caves to survive.
John immigrated to the United States & Michigan's Poletown with his brother, Jozef & his wife, & their Uncle Franciszek Koper.
John Koper married Katarzyna Dolecki on September 6, 1909, in Detroit, Michigan in Sweetest Heart of Mary Catholic Church, where Katherine was a parishioner since her baptism at a few days old. The Dolecki Family were one of the Sweetest Heart's founding families.
A longtime resident of Detroit, John passed away at a hospital in Indiana, while staying with his daughter Helen Stempien & her family, in Coldwater, Michigan.
Even though John was not a U.S. citizen at the time, he did register for the WWI Draft on June 5, 1917. He was never asked to serve, instead he worked at Ford Motor Company & raised a large Polish Catholic family who very active in St Hyacinth Church.
Five of his sons, Walter, John, Barney, Raymond, & Irvin, would go on to proudly serve their country in World War II. He had grandsons go off to the Korean & Vietnam Wars. The younger generation has continued to serve their country, too.
John's family was his main priority & they were always happy. He was known to boast, "that he was richer than Henry Ford", when it came to his family.
Times weren't always easy & he worked at Ford prior to the UAW, so he did not retire from Ford.
That particular plant went on to be UAW Local 400. The same local I am a member of & so are 2 of Grandpa's great grandchildren & my husband. I like the irony.
Grandpa worked at a couple of different factories prior to his retirement from McCord Radiator.
Playing cards, especially poker, was always a Koper family past time & still is to this day. It has long been a family joke about the similarities between the word "poker" & our family name of Koper. The majority of the Kopers are even buried with a deck of cards.
Another thing the Kopers love is their beer.
My older cousin was just telling us how Grandpa used to send him to the corner store with his wagon to pick up his beer. He said it was a thrill to be able to go up to the store get it for him.
Two of John's sons ended up owning bars after their Pa's death & made good livings at it.
He was predeceased by his dear wife Katherine, 2 sons Antoni & Edward, & a grandson, Norbert Koper, Jr.
Dear Pa (as they called him) of Helen (Joe) Stempien, Lottie (Harry) Nowakowski, Walter (Vera) Koper, Norbert (Virgie) Koper, Dorothy (Tony) Zuzga, Gertrude (Joe) Novak, Margret (Joe) Sliwinski, John (Sally) Koper, Raymond (Elvera) Koper, Barney (Margie) Koper, Irvin (Sophia) Koper, Catherine (Tom) Palmer.
Proud Grandfather of 39, 13 granddaughters & 26 grandsons.
Great Grandfather of many.
Bio by: Kim Koper♥Davis♛
Family Members
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Helen Margaret Koper Stempien
1910–1983
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Lottie Koper Nowakowski
1912–2005
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Sgt Walter Koper
1913–1991
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Edward "Eddie" Koper
1914–1917
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Norbert John "Norbie" Koper
1916–1971
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Edwina Dorothy "Dorothy" Koper Zuzga
1918–2009
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Gertrude Theresa "Gertie" Koper Novak
1919–1996
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Margret Rita "Margie" Koper Sliwinski
1920–2019
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John Gilbert Koper
1922–1989
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Corp Raymond Walter "Ray" Koper
1923–2008
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Pvt Barney Koper
1924–1982
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Irvin Francis Koper
1925–2008
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Antoni Koper
1926–1926
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Catherine Phyllis "Kitty" Koper Palmer Cox
1927–2021
