John Lewis Kopchik

John Lewis Kopchik, 87, of (North) Philipsburg, passed away at Windy Hill Village on Tuesday, February 24, 2015, peacefully surrounded by family and friends. John was born April 11, 1927, in Philipsburg, a son of the late Andrew and Mary (Hydock) Kopchik. He graduated from the Philipsburg High School in 1945. On October 28, 1950, in Winburne, he wed, Marcella Marie Kopchik his wife of 64 years, who passed away on August 18, 2014. John was a life-long member of Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, where he spent many years as a lector and as a part of their vocal choir. He also was a member of the First Catholic Slovak Union, Branch #456, both of Hawk Run. He served in the US Army as a baker from 1945 to 1947, immediately following WWII. He worked as a mover from 1948 to 1950 with Merle Stockley’s moving company, followed by a period of time working with Johnny Rice, paving highways in central PA. Beginning in 1954, he then spent the next 28 years working in various roles, including Assistant Manager, at the local Acme Market. When Acme closed its store in Philipsburg, John went to work at Penn State University, working as a custodian in multiple campus buildings until he retired in 1992. Among his hobbies were hunting, organic gardening of both vegetables and flowers, bee-keeping for a number of years with his wife, and volunteering with his wife at the former Philipsburg Area Hospital where they initially met while she was in nurse’s training. John was a self-taught beekeeper, and attended classes with his wife, Marcella along with the “3C’s and a B Club” (Centre / Clearfield / Cambria & Bedford Counties). John loved people and enjoyed spending time with his family and friends.

John is survived by four children: John M. Kopchik and his wife, Joanne, of Cowpens, SC., Gerard Kopchik, of Winter Garden, FL., Mary (Kopchik) Easton, of Maple Valley, WA., and Annette Gill and husband, Tom, of Riverside, CA.; one brother in law, John M. Deliman and his wife, Delores, of Chester Hill; a sister-in-law, Rosemary Deliman, of Philipsburg; five grandchildren: John A. Kopchik and his wife, Andrea, of Elliottsburg, Danielle (Kopchik) Powell and her husband, Vince, of Madera, Karuna McMurtry, of Wasilla, AK, Dolma Maria Halstead, of Seattle, WA., and Carmichael Halstead, of Maple Valley, WA.; three step-grandchildren: Curt, of Canton, MI., Kevin, of Commerce Township, MI., and Angela (Angie), of Fort Wayne, IN.; seven great-grandchildren: Courtney, Harley, Ashlyn, Chase, Christopher, Justin, and Makayla; six step-great grandchildren: Tommie, Jacob, Braden, Lilly, Carter, and Mia; and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers, George, Joseph, and Andrew, one sister, Anna, and a son, Michael A. Kopchik, who served with the USMC in Vietnam, who passed away at age 50. John is the last member of his immediate generation. Visitation will be on Sunday, March 1, 2015, from 5-7 p.m., at the Beezer-Heath Funeral Home, 719 E. Spruce Street, Philipsburg. The Rosary will be recited by the Ss. Peter & Paul Rosary Society at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday at the funeral home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, March 2, 2015, at 10:00 a.m. at Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, Hawk Run, with Rev. Joseph Staszewski, Celebrant. Interment will be at Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic Cemetery, Hawk Run. The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the charity of the donor’s choice.

Online condolences for the family may be submitted at www.beezerheathfh.com.