Paul J. Koperski

Paul J. Koperski, 66, of Dannebrog, died Friday, Dec. 12, 2008, at his home. Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Libory’s Catholic Church in St. Libory. The Revs. Matthew Koperski and Larry Coulter will officiate. Burial will be in the Elmwood Cemetery in St. Paul. Graveside military honors will be conducted by Carl Mogensen American Legion Post 119 of St. Paul. Visitation will be Monday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the church with a 7 p.m. vigil service and Knights of Columbus rosary. Peters Funeral Home of St. Paul is in charge of arrangements. Mr. Koperski was born Aug. 18, 1942, on the family farm southwest of Farwell, the son of Frank and Vernie (Lubash) Koperski. He is survived by his wife, Viola Koperski of Dannebrog; a son, Brian Koperski of Dannebrog; two daughters, Sonya Koperski and Jeremy Lemburg of Grand Island and Sara Rector and her husband, Chris of Gibbon; 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; four brothers and five sisters-in-law, Harry and Marcella Koperski of Grand Island, Stan and Gladyce Koperski and Leonard and Berniece Koperski, all of St. Paul, Frank and Sharon Koperski of Farwell and Dorothy Koperski of St. Paul. He is also survived by his mother-in-law, Rosina Carnes of Beatrice; brothers-in law, Emmett and Brenda Carnes, Jr. and Arlin Carnes, all of Beatrice; and sister-in-law, Linda and Harold Bartlett of Lincoln; and many nieces and nephews. Paul attended Kelso country school and St. Anthony’s parochial school in Farwell and graduated from Farwell High School in 1961. He then worked at various jobs including, Schwaderer Construction, Howard County Roads Department and Buschman’s Construction. He entered the Unites States Army in May 1968, serving in Vietnam from Oct. 1968 to Oct. 1969 and was then stationed at Ft. Carson, Colorado. He was united in marriage to Viola K. Carnes on Nov. 15, 1969, at Beatrice. The couple lived in Colorado Springs until his discharge in May 1971. The couple returned to the farm northwest of Dannebrog, where they still lived at the time of his death. Paul and Viola had four children, Susan, Brian, Sonya and Sara. Paul had a knack for alfalfa farming and sold his hay to great distances in the United States. He continued to farm with his son, Brian. He as a member of St. Libory’s Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus Council 1918 of St. Paul; Carl Mogensen American Legion Post 119 of St. Paul, of which he was a past commander, and served on the Dannebrog Rural Fire Board. Paul enjoyed his family, playing cards, walks, bicycle rides, his pet cows, farming, talking polish, polka music, photography, baseball, old cars and tractors and helping others. He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Susan Koperski; sisters, Bertha Kuszak and Cecelia Koperski; brother, Edward Koperski; and his father-in-law, Emmett Carnes, Sr. Memorials are suggested to the family’s choice.