Virgil Lee Koppes

Virgil Lee Koppes

Dec. 28, 1928 — Oct. 7, 2007

DEMING, N.M. — Virgil Lee Koppes was born Dec. 28, 1928, in Mitchell, Neb. to Henry and Jessie (McCoy) Koppes. He passed away after a short illness Oct. 7, 2007. He was raised by his beloved Uncle Clem and Aunt Sally Koppes in Hanover, Kan. Virgil married Betty Jean Radcliff on June 2, 1950, in Hugo, Colo. where he did farm work and other various jobs.

He joined the United Brotherhood of Carpenter’s Local No. 1156 in Montrose in 1963 as a dam carpenter working on Blue Mesa Dam. Many of his fellow workers had difficulty pronouncing his last name so he was jokingly referred to as “Cowpiss,” which became his nickname and put on his lunch box.

Virgil was an active member of the union for 35 years as a heavy/high carpenter/foreman and then became the business agent for the union until his retirement. When Local No. 1156 changed to Local No. 244, he followed along. He was active in the construction of Blue Mesa Dam, Morrow Point Dam, Crystal Dam, Ridgway Dam and the Eisenhower Tunnel as well as projects in Pueblo, Aspen/Beaver Creek, Paonia, Crawford and California. His proudest accomplishment was the Eisenhower Tunnel, which he was able to travel through on his many trips to visit family, loved ones and his fellow union brothers. Virgil enjoyed playing in a pool league, tournaments and being around people.

He is survived by his beloved Aunt Sally of Hanover, Kan.; a brother, Donald (Virginia) Koppes of Virginia; two sisters, Dorothy (George) Tokar of Aguilar, Colo., and Anna Mae (Clarence) Kaiser of Nebraska City, Neb.; ex-wife, Betty Koppes of Greeley; sons, John (Bobbi) Koppes of Delta, Colo., Joseph (Connie) Koppes of Greeley, Colo., Donald (Roxanne) Koppes of Delta, Colo., and Gerald (Jan) Koppes of Grasslake, Ill.; daughters, Rebecca (Sean) Koppes Conway of Greeley, Colo., and Diann (Ken) Suttle of Montrose, Colo. He is also survived by 11 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins, which he kept in contact through a round robin letter for the Koppes family.

Virgil lived in Hugo, Delta and Grand Junction, and most recently Deming, N.M. as well as the many different areas that he worked.

The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass was offered Dec. 4, 2007 in Nebraska and will be offered Thursday, Dec. 6, 2007 at St. Michael’s Church in Delta at 6 p.m. A dinner is being provided by the ladies of St. Michael’s for family and friends following the service.