Paul E. VandeKoppel
February 15th, 1932 - July 7th, 2024
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Paul's Obituary
Paul E. VandeKoppel, 92, of St. Joseph, went to meet his Lord & Savior Jesus Christ, Sunday, July 7, 2024 at Caretel Inns of St. Joseph.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held 11:00 A.M. Friday, July 12, 2024 at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery in St. Joseph. Friends may visit with the Family from 9:30 until 11:00 A.M. Friday at the funeral home. Memorial donations in Paul’s name may be made to First Church of God Endowment Fund or to Samaritan’s Purse. Those wishing to sign Paul’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.
Paul was born February 15, 1932 in Muskegon, Michigan to Johannes & Anna (Fischer) VandeKoppel. He graduated from Muskegon High School, Class of 1950. Paul enlisted in the US Army and served his country during the Korean War. On April 2, 1955, he married the former Aileen Workman in Muskegon. After his service in the Army, Paul continued his education at Devry Institute and later at Lake Michigan College. He gained employment at Bell Telephone Lab in Indianapolis before moving to Michigan to work for Electro-Voice in Buchanan. Paul finished his career at Whirlpool Corporation in Benton Harbor, retiring in 1993 as a lab & test engineer, after twenty-seven years.
Paul was a member of the First Church of God in St. Joseph where he served as an usher and on the board of trustees. In his free time he enjoyed golfing, photography, writing poetry, sketching caricatures, spending time at the family cottage on Fish Lake, attending his grandchildren’s sporting events, and listening to his favorite country artist, George Jones. Paul had a keen interest in cars and trucks and cherished the time rebuilding and restoring his 1963 Chevy pick-up truck. Paul was very health conscious and developed a daily walking routine to keep himself in good shape. He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.
Paul is survived by his wife Aileen; his children-Ted (Molly) VandeKoppel of Portage, MI, Thom (Brenda) VandeKoppel of Findlay, OH, Jill (Mike) Kerby of Berrien Center; grandchildren-Samantha (Steve Salyer) Hamman, Sarah (Robert) Zwalua, Paul (Jessica) VandeKoppel, Kelley (Garrett) Hines, Tyler (Kelsey) Kerby, Matthew (Katie) Kerby, Ryan (Jillian) Kerby & Jason (Livy) Kerby; four great-grandchildren-Larkin, Micah, Judith & Quinn; his brother John Grootenhuis, sister-in-law-Karen Grootenhuis; and several nieces & nephews. Paul was preceded in death by his parents, his sister & brother-in-law Joycene (Harold) Wolffis, his brother Robert Grootenhuis & his sister-in-law Barb Grootenhuis.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held 11:00 A.M. Friday, July 12, 2024 at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery in St. Joseph. Friends may visit with the Family from 9:30 until 11:00 A.M. Friday at the funeral home. Memorial donations in Paul’s name may be made to First Church of God Endowment Fund or to Samaritan’s Purse. Those wishing to sign Paul’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.
Paul was born February 15, 1932 in Muskegon, Michigan to Johannes & Anna (Fischer) VandeKoppel. He graduated from Muskegon High School, Class of 1950. Paul enlisted in the US Army and served his country during the Korean War. On April 2, 1955, he married the former Aileen Workman in Muskegon. After his service in the Army, Paul continued his education at Devry Institute and later at Lake Michigan College. He gained employment at Bell Telephone Lab in Indianapolis before moving to Michigan to work for Electro-Voice in Buchanan. Paul finished his career at Whirlpool Corporation in Benton Harbor, retiring in 1993 as a lab & test engineer, after twenty-seven years.
Paul was a member of the First Church of God in St. Joseph where he served as an usher and on the board of trustees. In his free time he enjoyed golfing, photography, writing poetry, sketching caricatures, spending time at the family cottage on Fish Lake, attending his grandchildren’s sporting events, and listening to his favorite country artist, George Jones. Paul had a keen interest in cars and trucks and cherished the time rebuilding and restoring his 1963 Chevy pick-up truck. Paul was very health conscious and developed a daily walking routine to keep himself in good shape. He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.
Paul is survived by his wife Aileen; his children-Ted (Molly) VandeKoppel of Portage, MI, Thom (Brenda) VandeKoppel of Findlay, OH, Jill (Mike) Kerby of Berrien Center; grandchildren-Samantha (Steve Salyer) Hamman, Sarah (Robert) Zwalua, Paul (Jessica) VandeKoppel, Kelley (Garrett) Hines, Tyler (Kelsey) Kerby, Matthew (Katie) Kerby, Ryan (Jillian) Kerby & Jason (Livy) Kerby; four great-grandchildren-Larkin, Micah, Judith & Quinn; his brother John Grootenhuis, sister-in-law-Karen Grootenhuis; and several nieces & nephews. Paul was preceded in death by his parents, his sister & brother-in-law Joycene (Harold) Wolffis, his brother Robert Grootenhuis & his sister-in-law Barb Grootenhuis.
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