Darlene Kopsa

THE KOPSA FAMILY WILL BE GREETING FAMILY AND FRIENDS 6:00PM TO 8:00PM FRIDAY AT THE FUNERAL HOME. MEMORIALS MAY BE MADE TO THE DARLENE KOPSA MEMORIAL

Darlene Culver (Gaston) Kopsa, age 76, passed away on February 7 ^th , 2015 surrounded by her family at the Republic County Hospital in Belleville, Kansas.  She will be forever remembered by her husband Melroy of the home;  daughter Micki Zenger and husband Steve, Haddam;  son Lance and wife Cindy of Cuba;  daughter Calise (Casi) Lahodny and husband Bryan, Montgomery, Texas;  son Cory, Superior, Nebraska.  Eight grandchildren; Josh Zenger and Heidi and their children Adelaide, Greyson & Lorelai, Jared Zenger and Tahra and daughter Jocelyn, Jordan Zenger and Luke Abel, Zachary Kopsa, Tabayia Kopsa, Tyler Kopsa, Justin Lahodny and Ashley Lahodny, and four great-grandchildren, step brother Harold Walker and wife Dianne, step sisters Helen Bausch and husband Richard, Rosemary Bergeron, Joann Martin and husband Max, Patricia Erickson and husband Alan,  an aunt, Lucille Nelson; brother in law Rodney Kopsa;  sister in law Carol Williams and husband Norman; many nieces,  nephews,  and friends.  Darlene is preceded  in death by her parents, step father Christopher Walker, infant brother Orthel, half-brother O.M. Gaston, step sisters Marilyn Walker and Kathleen Schumaker, step brother Michael Walker, sister in law Virginia Recchio and sister in law Florene Blecha.  Darlene was born in Mankato, Kansas to Ralph Arthur Gaston and Ethel Phillipson on June 15 ^th , 1938. She attended school at Cuba and graduated with the class of 1956. Darlene married her lifelong companion Melroy Kopsa on July 29 ^th , 1956. Grandma Dee’s loves were her family as she took great pride in their accomplishments.  Rarely one for the spotlight, Darlene was happiest when her children and grandchildren found success.  Even though she said she didn’t like to cook, many memories were made in the kitchen around the stove and dining room table.   Darlene’s baking skills found her taking requests from future brides for their wedding cakes.  She took advantage of her sewing room with an incredible talent for designing clothes for all occasions.   Darlene’s quilting skills were fantastic as she created quilts for every grandchild on their high school graduation.   She also had a love for reading and enjoyed getting lost in stories, devouring books in an afternoon break.  Other hobbies included tickling the ivories on the piano and organ and working countless hours throughout the years compiling information for the family tree.   Melroy and Darlene loved to travel with trips to Texas always high on the list and an occasional dash to the casino on a Sunday afternoon.  Funeral services will be held 10:30am Saturday at the Presbyterian Church, Cuba, Kansas with Pastor Phil Goombi officiating. Burial will be in the National Bohemian Cemetery #13, rural Cuba, Kansas. Memorials can be made to the Darlene Kopsa memorial fund. Viewing will be 1pm to 8pm Friday with family greeting everyone from 6pm to 8pm. Tibbetts-Fischer Funeral Home, Belleville, Kansas assisted the Kopsa family with these arrangements.