Harry F. Koperski

Harry F. Koperski, 85, of Elba, died Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009, at the Golden LivingCenter Lakeview in Grand Island. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Farwell. The Rev. Tom Ryan will officiate. Burial will be in St. Anthony’s Catholic Cemetery near Farwell. Visitation will be Tuesday at the church from 6 to 8 p.m., with a 7 p.m. vigil service. Peters Funeral Home of St. Paul is in charge of arrangements. Mr. Koperski was born on Oct. 10, 1923, on the family farm southwest of Farwell, the son of Frank and Vernie (Lubash) Koperski. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Delores Koperski. He is survived by his wife, Marcella Koperski of Elba; one son and daughter-in-law, Larry and Joan Koperski of Farwell; three sisters and two brothers-in-law, Catherine and Ray Miller of Beatrice, Rose Jasnoch of Loup City, and Leona and Robert Verley of St. Paul; three brothers and five sisters-in-law, Stan and Gladyce Koperski and Leonard and Berniece Koperski, all of St. Paul, Frank and Sharon Koperski of Farwell, Dorothy Koperski of St. Paul, and Viola Koperski of Dannebrog. He is also survived by four grandchildren, Cathy and Rod Galvan of Grand Island, Tim and Janet Koperski of Farwell, Tom and Nunzy Koperski of Farwell, and Cindy Koperski of Grand Island; six great-grandchildren, Amanda, Andrew and Abbey Galvan and Lane, Toby and Weston Koperski; two step-daughters and their husbands, Barbara and Dennis Stark and Bonnie and Dennis Kennedy, all of Grand Island; and one step-son, Walter “Butch” Umphress of Cotesfield. Harry grew up on the family farm and attended Kelso country school in the area. Upon completing his education he farmed with his father. He was united in marriage to Delores Piontkowski, on May 10, 1946, at Loup City. The couple lived and farmed southwest of Farwell their entire married lives. Delores died on Sept. 11, 1979. Harry married Marcella (Kuszak) Umphress on Feb. 14, 1981, at Ashton. The couple lived in Elba and Harry continued to farm near Farwell. In Jan. 2007, Harry moved to the Golden LivingCenter Lakeview in Grand Island, where he lived the rest of his life. He was a member of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church of Farwell and a former member of the Knights of Columbus Council 1918 of St. Paul. Harry enjoyed fishing, farming and being outdoors. In addition to his wife, Delores, he was preceded in death by his parents; infant sister, Cecelia Koperski; sister and brother-in-law, Bertha and Leo Kuszak; brother-in-law, Leonard Jasnoch; two brothers, Edward and Paul Koperski; and a step son, Mike Umphress. Memorials are suggested to Aseracare Hospice.