Lester J. Koopmann, 90 year old resident of Little Falls, MN passed away Thursday, September 8, 2016 at the Central Minnesota Senior Care in Little Falls, MN. Funeral service will be at 11:30 A.M. Monday, September 12, 2016 at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Randall, MN with Pastor Joseph Crosswhite officiating. Burial will be at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery north of Little Falls. Visitation will be from 10:30 A.M. to 11:30 A.M. on Monday at the church. Arrangements are with the Shelley Funeral Chapel in Little Falls, MN.
Lester John Koopmann was born June 28, 1926 in Belfast Township, Murray County, MN to the late John and Eliese (Pfingsten) Koopmann.Lester graduated from Fulda, MN high school. He then served two years in the U.S. Army during World War II in Korea and the Philippines. He earned a degree in biology from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, and worked ten years with the Minnesota Department of Conservation. He married Dorothy Raschke on September 14, 1963 at Holy Apostles Episcopal Church in St. Paul, MN. They lived two years in Spring Lake Park and then settled in Detroit Lakes, MN for 28 years where Lester worked for the U.S. Department of the Interior, the Detroit Lakes Fish Hatchery and the Becker County Assessor’s Office, retiring from full time employment in 1989. Lester was an avid outdoorsman and advocate for wildlife. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and spending time connecting with nature. Music was also a central part of Lester’s life. Whether singing with a barbershop quartet or chorus, in the church choir, or working out a tune on the piano or accordion, he always found great joy in the gift of music. Lester also loved golfing with his brothers, walking his dog in the woods and spending time with his granddaughters. He was known for his reverent and gentle demeanor, and above all his unending commitment to and pride in his family. Among his greatest life’s works are the genealogical history books he compiled, which involved many years of thorough research and included detailed biographical accounts of his extended family. He will also be remembered for his unwavering Christian faith and involvement in the church. During their residency in Detroit Lakes, Lester and Dorothy had two sons, John and Karl. In 1993 they moved to Moorhead, MN and then in 2004 to Little Falls, MN.
Lester is survived by his wife Dorothy; son John and his wife Cindy and son Karl and partner Jen Foote-Thomas; granddaughters Sarah and Anna Koopmann; brother Adelbert; sisters Marie, Norma, Wilma, and Lorine.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Marvin, Henry, Wilbert and Vernon.
