Richard 'Rich' Koppes

Richard Edmund Koppes was born June 1, 1937, in Moran Township, to Raymond and Clara (Etzler) Koppes. He attended country school and helped on the family farm.

On June 27, 1959, he married Donna Mae Reger at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Staples, Minnesota. They lived for a short time in Minneapolis, before buying a farm in Staples township, where they raised four children, Jeff, Deanna, Doreen, and Sherri. They were blessed to have 28 years of marriage. Donna passed away on October 1, 1987. Richard married Jean Marie (Knox) Martin on October 8, 1993, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Staples. They were blessed to have 27 years of marriage. Jean passed away on March 21, 2021.

Richard enjoyed hunting, fishing, and trapping in his youth. Later in life, he enjoyed traveling, playing cards, and was an excellent gardener. He was a farmer, steel fabricator, and welder most of his life. He was proficient with a chain saw and was cutting wood and using his welding talents to build things, well into his eighties. He loved his family, and was a faithful soul, who loved his Catholic faith, making a final pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Champion, in Wisconsin, in June of 2025. He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Staples.

His memory will be cherished by family and friends. Richard is survived by his children: Jeff (Kim) Koppes, Deanna (Mike) Soukup, Doreen (Scott) Nelson, Sherri (Linus) Koval. Steph-children: Ronald (Cheryl) Martin, Dale Martin, Mike (Mary) Martin, and Patty (Tim) Wiebold; 15 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, brother in-law, Paul Marte Jr., sister in-law Elinor Reger, and many nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his wife Donna Koppes, his wife Jean Koppes, brothers: Raymond Jr. and wife Delores, Lawrence and wife Eileen, Harold, Jerold and wife Kaye, and sister, Marie Marte, and grandson Mitchell Richard Koppes.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday January 17, 2026 at 11:00am at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Staples, with a visitation one hour prior to the start of the service. There will be a visitation held on Friday January 16, 2026, from 5:00pm – 7:00pm at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, with a prayer service beginning at 6:00pm, and the Rosary at 6:30pm. Graveside service held at Evergreen Hill Cemetery following the Mass. Lunch will be served at the church following the burial.

Arrangements are entrusted to Brenny Family Funeral Chapel, Staples.