William Coppoc

William "Bill" Coppoc completed his earthly journey the evening of Tuesday, July 15, surrounded by family, love and music. Bill was an area Mason and Shriner, and could often be seen fishing in Fountain Lake with his grandson Gavin or carving on his front porch in Albert Lea during the years he was still able.

Bill was born in Corpus Christi, Texas, on December 22, 1948, and was adopted into the Coppoc family three years later. He grew up in White Plains and Poughkeepsie, New York, except for a brief but memorable stint at Fryeburg Academy in Maine. Bill also attended Oakwood Friends School, where he performed in the musical, "Plain and Fancy," alongside future songwriting legend Bonnie Raitt. While in school, Bill participated in a number of sports, and enjoyed both soccer and skiing until repeated knee injuries forced him onto the sidelines in early adulthood.

After high school, Bill moved halfway across the country to follow in his parents' footsteps and attend Ottawa University in Ottawa, Kansas. Also following family tradition, he met the love of his life, Karolee Ann Keelin, there while singing in the school choir. Bill majored in broadcasting and worked as a DJ at the local radio station, but his true area of interest was Karol.

Bill married Karol on July 7, 1973, welcoming Michael into his life as a son. Their union produced two other children, Jim and Janet, and 52 years of love and commitment.

In 1983, Bill was involved in a multi-auto collision that left him with a broken neck, a traumatic brain injury, and a lifetime of lingering side effects. Although he was never able to work full time again, Bill did turn to woodworking as a hobby, and the wooden toys he produced could be seen on the shelves of several area stores.

After Bill's injury, the family followed Karol's career to a number of new locations in Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois and Florida. Bill was a dutiful husband, doing his best to keep up with the house and the children as Karol's career developed.

In his golden years, Bill enjoyed spending time with the other great love of his life, his grandchildren. Bill and Karol stayed with Janet and family in rural Albert Lea for several years, where they were able to live out their dream of living a quiet, pastoral life, surrounded by family and nature. When their health needs required it, Bill and Karol moved into assisted living at St. John's. Bill's final few years were then spent making new friends and careening through the halls on his mobile scooter.

Bill is survived by Karol; his sister Teresa Denies and family; his biological family, with whom he reconnected in later years; son Michael Coppoc and grandsons Casey-Jack and Zach; son Jim (Lindsey) Coppoc, grandsons William and Fionn and granddaughter Leslie; and daughter Janet (Jerry) Thompson and grandsons Gavin, Christian and Hunter. He is preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Eleanor (Lister) Coppoc and grandchildren, Kali Ann Reiman and Jayden Lee Thompson.

Service information soon to follow