Duane Lawrence Copeskey left this world on Thursday, May 24, 2018, just 16 days short
of his 90th birthday. We had planned to celebrate this special day with family, friends, Cravings Cake and great rounds of story telling. Instead, we will take time to celebrate the life of this great man and cherish our memories.
Duane spent most of his life in Two Rivers. He grew up on the east side of town, the eldest son of a family of six. At some point during his teenage years he was struck by a car while riding his bike on a milk purchasing errand. He was forever grateful to "old" Doc Zlatnik for very skillfully re-attaching his arm. The scar was a constant reminder of this story.
After graduating from Washington High School, Duane enlisted in the U.S. Navy and spent four years on the repair ship USS Amphion. Although he did not "see the world" as the recruiter promised, he did learn a lot and met countless interesting people. Upon returning to Wisconsin after the Navy he trained as a painter and worked with his father, Sylvester Copeskey, at Copeskey's Paint Store on Washington Street in Two Rivers.
Now ready to settle down he met the love of his life, Joan Eiles, on a blind date. She opened his eyes and his heart so they were married on October 8, 1955. Their happy story continued with the birth of two children, Joseph (1958) and Nancy (1961).
Later in his life he was employed at Burger Boat Company in Manitowoc. His excellent skills of painting, wallpapering and woodwork brought great beauty and detail to the luxury yachts produced at this company. When he wasn't at work you could find him toiling in his vegetable garden which increased in size each summer. The harvest was shared with many. He also enjoyed any kind of fishing and had many stories about the one that got away.
He traveled to many States and England to visit his daughter and son-in-law (Jeff). He was a welcome visitor as he always packed his paint brushes. When a granddaughter (Ila) was added to the mix, the travel became even more appealing. Of course all life includes some loss. He was preceded in death by his wife (Joan) of 59 years, on March 11, 2015, his son (Joseph) who left us on August 11, 1994, at the young age of 36, his parents: Sylvester and Mary (Hallada) Copeskey; two brothers (Donald and Frank) and one sister (Joyce).
He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Nancy and Jeff Koeppel of Atlanta, Georgia; a granddaughter Ila Koeppel of Wichita, Kansas; sisters: Shirley Hodas and Mary Lou (Carl) Pfefferkorn; sisters-in-law: Beverly (Paul) Schmidt and Judy Eiles; along with several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, May 30, 2018 at St. Peter the Fisherman Catholic Church, 3201 Mishicot Rd. Two Rivers. Officiating at the Mass of Christian Burial will be Rev. Tom Reynebeau, with burial in Holy Cross Cemetery, Two Rivers. Military graveside rites will be accorded at the church immediately following the mass by members of American Legion Post #165 and VFW Post #1248 of Two Rivers.
The family will greet relatives and friends at St. Peter the Fisherman Catholic Church, Wednesday morning from 9:30 until 10:45 a.m. There will be no Tuesday evening visitation.
of his 90th birthday. We had planned to celebrate this special day with family, friends, Cravings Cake and great rounds of story telling. Instead, we will take time to celebrate the life of this great man and cherish our memories.
Duane spent most of his life in Two Rivers. He grew up on the east side of town, the eldest son of a family of six. At some point during his teenage years he was struck by a car while riding his bike on a milk purchasing errand. He was forever grateful to "old" Doc Zlatnik for very skillfully re-attaching his arm. The scar was a constant reminder of this story.
After graduating from Washington High School, Duane enlisted in the U.S. Navy and spent four years on the repair ship USS Amphion. Although he did not "see the world" as the recruiter promised, he did learn a lot and met countless interesting people. Upon returning to Wisconsin after the Navy he trained as a painter and worked with his father, Sylvester Copeskey, at Copeskey's Paint Store on Washington Street in Two Rivers.
Now ready to settle down he met the love of his life, Joan Eiles, on a blind date. She opened his eyes and his heart so they were married on October 8, 1955. Their happy story continued with the birth of two children, Joseph (1958) and Nancy (1961).
Later in his life he was employed at Burger Boat Company in Manitowoc. His excellent skills of painting, wallpapering and woodwork brought great beauty and detail to the luxury yachts produced at this company. When he wasn't at work you could find him toiling in his vegetable garden which increased in size each summer. The harvest was shared with many. He also enjoyed any kind of fishing and had many stories about the one that got away.
He traveled to many States and England to visit his daughter and son-in-law (Jeff). He was a welcome visitor as he always packed his paint brushes. When a granddaughter (Ila) was added to the mix, the travel became even more appealing. Of course all life includes some loss. He was preceded in death by his wife (Joan) of 59 years, on March 11, 2015, his son (Joseph) who left us on August 11, 1994, at the young age of 36, his parents: Sylvester and Mary (Hallada) Copeskey; two brothers (Donald and Frank) and one sister (Joyce).
He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Nancy and Jeff Koeppel of Atlanta, Georgia; a granddaughter Ila Koeppel of Wichita, Kansas; sisters: Shirley Hodas and Mary Lou (Carl) Pfefferkorn; sisters-in-law: Beverly (Paul) Schmidt and Judy Eiles; along with several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, May 30, 2018 at St. Peter the Fisherman Catholic Church, 3201 Mishicot Rd. Two Rivers. Officiating at the Mass of Christian Burial will be Rev. Tom Reynebeau, with burial in Holy Cross Cemetery, Two Rivers. Military graveside rites will be accorded at the church immediately following the mass by members of American Legion Post #165 and VFW Post #1248 of Two Rivers.
The family will greet relatives and friends at St. Peter the Fisherman Catholic Church, Wednesday morning from 9:30 until 10:45 a.m. There will be no Tuesday evening visitation.
Duane Lawrence Copeskey left this world on Thursday, May 24, 2018, just 16 days short
of his 90th birthday. We had planned to celebrate this special day with family, friends, Cravings Cake and great rounds of story telling. Instead, we will take time to celebrate the life of this great man and cherish our memories.
Duane spent most of his life in Two Rivers. He grew up on the east side of town, the eldest son of a family of six. At some point during his teenage years he was struck by a car while riding his bike on a milk purchasing errand. He was forever grateful to "old" Doc Zlatnik for very skillfully re-attaching his arm. The scar was a constant reminder of this story.
After graduating from Washington High School, Duane enlisted in the U.S. Navy and spent four years on the repair ship USS Amphion. Although he did not "see the world" as the recruiter promised, he did learn a lot and met countless interesting people. Upon returning to Wisconsin after the Navy he trained as a painter and worked with his father, Sylvester Copeskey, at Copeskey's Paint Store on Washington Street in Two Rivers.
Now ready to settle down he met the love of his life, Joan Eiles, on a blind date. She opened his eyes and his heart so they were married on October 8, 1955. Their happy story continued with the birth of two children, Joseph (1958) and Nancy (1961).
Later in his life he was employed at Burger Boat Company in Manitowoc. His excellent skills of painting, wallpapering and woodwork brought great beauty and detail to the luxury yachts produced at this company. When he wasn't at work you could find him toiling in his vegetable garden which increased in size each summer. The harvest was shared with many. He also enjoyed any kind of fishing and had many stories about the one that got away.
He traveled to many States and England to visit his daughter and son-in-law (Jeff). He was a welcome visitor as he always packed his paint brushes. When a granddaughter (Ila) was added to the mix, the travel became even more appealing. Of course all life includes some loss. He was preceded in death by his wife (Joan) of 59 years, on March 11, 2015, his son (Joseph) who left us on August 11, 1994, at the young age of 36, his parents: Sylvester and Mary (Hallada) Copeskey; two brothers (Donald and Frank) and one sister (Joyce).
He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Nancy and Jeff Koeppel of Atlanta, Georgia; a granddaughter Ila Koeppel of Wichita, Kansas; sisters: Shirley Hodas and Mary Lou (Carl) Pfefferkorn; sisters-in-law: Beverly (Paul) Schmidt and Judy Eiles; along with several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, May 30, 2018 at St. Peter the Fisherman Catholic Church, 3201 Mishicot Rd. Two Rivers. Officiating at the Mass of Christian Burial will be Rev. Tom Reynebeau, with burial in Holy Cross Cemetery, Two Rivers. Military graveside rites will be accorded at the church immediately following the mass by members of American Legion Post #165 and VFW Post #1248 of Two Rivers.
The family will greet relatives and friends at St. Peter the Fisherman Catholic Church, Wednesday morning from 9:30 until 10:45 a.m. There will be no Tuesday evening visitation.
of his 90th birthday. We had planned to celebrate this special day with family, friends, Cravings Cake and great rounds of story telling. Instead, we will take time to celebrate the life of this great man and cherish our memories.
Duane spent most of his life in Two Rivers. He grew up on the east side of town, the eldest son of a family of six. At some point during his teenage years he was struck by a car while riding his bike on a milk purchasing errand. He was forever grateful to "old" Doc Zlatnik for very skillfully re-attaching his arm. The scar was a constant reminder of this story.
After graduating from Washington High School, Duane enlisted in the U.S. Navy and spent four years on the repair ship USS Amphion. Although he did not "see the world" as the recruiter promised, he did learn a lot and met countless interesting people. Upon returning to Wisconsin after the Navy he trained as a painter and worked with his father, Sylvester Copeskey, at Copeskey's Paint Store on Washington Street in Two Rivers.
Now ready to settle down he met the love of his life, Joan Eiles, on a blind date. She opened his eyes and his heart so they were married on October 8, 1955. Their happy story continued with the birth of two children, Joseph (1958) and Nancy (1961).
Later in his life he was employed at Burger Boat Company in Manitowoc. His excellent skills of painting, wallpapering and woodwork brought great beauty and detail to the luxury yachts produced at this company. When he wasn't at work you could find him toiling in his vegetable garden which increased in size each summer. The harvest was shared with many. He also enjoyed any kind of fishing and had many stories about the one that got away.
He traveled to many States and England to visit his daughter and son-in-law (Jeff). He was a welcome visitor as he always packed his paint brushes. When a granddaughter (Ila) was added to the mix, the travel became even more appealing. Of course all life includes some loss. He was preceded in death by his wife (Joan) of 59 years, on March 11, 2015, his son (Joseph) who left us on August 11, 1994, at the young age of 36, his parents: Sylvester and Mary (Hallada) Copeskey; two brothers (Donald and Frank) and one sister (Joyce).
He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Nancy and Jeff Koeppel of Atlanta, Georgia; a granddaughter Ila Koeppel of Wichita, Kansas; sisters: Shirley Hodas and Mary Lou (Carl) Pfefferkorn; sisters-in-law: Beverly (Paul) Schmidt and Judy Eiles; along with several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, May 30, 2018 at St. Peter the Fisherman Catholic Church, 3201 Mishicot Rd. Two Rivers. Officiating at the Mass of Christian Burial will be Rev. Tom Reynebeau, with burial in Holy Cross Cemetery, Two Rivers. Military graveside rites will be accorded at the church immediately following the mass by members of American Legion Post #165 and VFW Post #1248 of Two Rivers.
The family will greet relatives and friends at St. Peter the Fisherman Catholic Church, Wednesday morning from 9:30 until 10:45 a.m. There will be no Tuesday evening visitation.
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