John R Koopman

John R. Koopman, age 89, of Columbus, died Saturday, December 17, at his home surrounded by his family. Services will be held 10:30 am Wednesday, December 21 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 1470 14th Avenue, Columbus NE. Visitation will be at McKown Funeral Home, 2922 13th Street in Columbus on Tuesday from 5-7 pm. Burial will be in Roselawn Cemetery with Military Honors by the American Legion Hartman Post #84 Honor Guard.  Memorials may be made to the family for later designation.

John was born May 26,1933 in rural Stanton County in a small country store at the intersections of Highways 32 and 15 known as the Koopman Station to John H. and Antonette (Shanle) Koopman. He attended District 32, a one room schoolhouse just up the hill from the station. He assisted his parents in the station and with gasoline deliveries. John graduated from Stanton High School in 1950. He worked construction until he entered the U. S Navy in 1952. Upon discharge he drove truck for Columbus Oil and Storz Distributing of Omaha. He married Greta Kumpf in 1955. In 1959 he purchased the Oasis Bar located downtown Columbus and later moved it to the Highway 30 location. They lived in California at different times where he drove tanker trucks for oil companies. He married Lucille Bosak in 1976. He drove truck for Behlen Manufacturing and Camaco, retiring in 1997. During his truck driving career, John logged over 3 million miles without a chargeable accident. John was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, the American Legion and Eagles. During retirement Lucy and John did various church and community volunteering. He loved his family and was hardworking and honest.

He is survived by his wife Lucy, son John David (Isabel) Koopman of San Francisco, CA, daughters Linda (Albin) Moore of Columbus, NE and Joan (Bill) Kreifels of Nebraska City, NE. Five grandchildren, Jessica (Ross) Silverberg of West Linn, OR, Jaimie (Jake) Medlin of Safety Harbor, FL, Allison (Christopher) Weddle of Big Fork, MN, William Kreifels of NYC. and Jordi Koopman of Arcadia, CA; five great-grandchildren, Tessa Jean Weddle, Madison Weddle, Levi and Layton Weddle, and Jaxson and Joseph Medlin; Sister In-law and brother in-law Rose and Jim Weldon, and his beloved dog, Rudi.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Antonette Koopman and his in-laws, Walter and Mary Bosak. Sisters in-law and brothers in-law Cecilia (Albin) Stetz, Ann (Jack) Hamilton, Emily (Rock) Snyder, Frank (Della) (Phyllis) Bosak and Emil (Evelyn) Bosak.