Richard Koppes
Richard Koppes, 89, of Staples passed away January 11, 2026.
Mass of Christian Burial was held January 17, 2026 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Staples.
Graveside services were held at Evergreen Hill Cemetery, Staples.
Richard Edmund Koppes was born June 1, 1937, in Moran Township, to Raymond and Clara (Etzler) Koppes. He attended country school and helped on the family farm.
On June 27, 1959, he married Donna Mae Reger at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Staples. They lived for a short time in Minneapolis, before buying a farm in Staples Township, where they raised four children, Jeff, Deanna, Doreen and Sherri. They were blessed to have 28 years of marriage. Donna passed away October 1, 1987. Richard married Jean Marie (Knox) Martin on October 8, 1993, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Staples. They were blessed to have 27 years of marriage. Jean passed away March 21, 2021.
Richard enjoyed hunting, fishing and trapping in his youth. Later, he enjoyed traveling, playing cards and was an excellent gardener. He was a farmer, steel fabricator and welder most of his life. He was proficient with a chain saw and was cutting wood and using his welding talents to build things, well into his 80’s. He loved his family, was a faithful soul, who loved his Catholic faith, making a final pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Champion in Wisconsin, in June of 2025. He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Staples.
His memory will be cherished by family and friends. Richard is survived by one son, Jeff (Kim) Koppes; three daughters, Deanna (Mike) Soukup, Doreen (Scott) Nelson, Sherri (Linus) Koval; four step-children, Ronald (Cheryl) Martin, Dale Martin, Mike (Mary) Martin and Patty (Tim) Wiebold; 15 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, one brother in-law, Paul Marte, Jr., one sister in-law Elinor Reger and many nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents; wife, Donna Koppes; wife, Jean Koppes; three brothers, Raymond, Jr. (Delores), Lawrence (Eileen), Harold, Jerold (Kaye); one sister, Marie Marte and one grandson, Mitchell Richard Koppes.
Arrangements were by Brenny Family Funeral Chapel, Staples.
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