Gail E. Kopp

Gail E. Kopp, age 68, of Platteville, passed away at her home on Thursday, June 19, 2008. Gail was born onJune 23, 1939in Boscobel, the daughter of Max and Lela (Rotzoll) Linder. She was united in marriage with Wesly Kopp at theFirstMethodistChurchin Platteville onAugust 20, 1960. Growing up in Platteville, Gail spent many hours working in the familys Log Cabin Grocery Store. She graduated fromPlattevilleHigh Schooland from theUniversityofWisconsinat Platteville. Gail enjoyed a forty-two year career as a substitute teacher in the Platteville school district. She was a member of thePlattevilleUnitedMethodistChurchand a founding board member of theJamisonMuseum Association. Gail enjoyed nothing more than time spent with her family and friends. She was blessed with many good friends, including a group of life-long girlfriends with whom she shared lifes journeys. Gail also had interests in genealogy, water aerobics class, preserving wildlife, protecting animals, and visits with family inSwitzerland. Gail had a warm, gentle spirit and met her many health challenges with grace, hope, and peace. Her ability to live through the challenges of cancer inspired many others facing a health challenge. She was diagnosed with breast cancer two separate times and in 1998 had surgery and radiation to remove a metastatic tumor from her brain. No one ever told Gail she couldnt fight, and so she fought and truly lived. In January 2008, Gail learned she had pancreatic cancer. Until the very end, she remained at peace and enjoyed all she could of life. Her way was made easier by the support of her friends and family.

Survivors include her husband, Wesly Kopp, Platteville; their daughter Keely (Jeff) Thomas and grandchildren Kelby and Kerby Thomas, all of Dodgeville; their daughter Korey Kopp, Middleton; and their son Kenyon (Carrie) Kopp and grandchildren Jacob Fowler, Madelief and Max Kopp, Jackson, MI; two brothers: Merl (Rose) Linder, Albert Lea, MN; and Alan (Chris) Linder, Waukesha; a sister-in-law, Sue Lavold, Brea, CA; her cherished aunts Etta (Rotzoll) Farfan, Lima, Peru and Alice (Rotzoll) Beckman, Oconomowoc; her honorary third daughter Monika Ruegg, Schmerikon, Switzerland; her many cousins in Switzerland, other relatives and many friends.

Gail was preceded in death by her parents and her mother and father-in-law, Elmer and Betty Kopp.

Funeral services were held at  10:00 a.m. on  Monday, June, 23, 2008 at the  Platteville  United  Methodist  Church with Reverend John Christianson officiating. Burial was in  Greenwood  Cemetery, Platteville. Friends called on  Sunday, June 22, 2008 from  3:30 7:00 p.m. at the church, and from 9:00 a.m. until the time of services on Monday morning. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the American Cancer Society or to Upland Hills Hospice,DodgevilleWI