Obit: Kops, Richard A. (1937 - 2022)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Kops, Widmer, Kilty, Laessig, Abel, Plaskey

----Source: Marshfield News-Herald (Marshfield, Wood Co., WI) 1/04/2023

Kops, Richard A. (17 January 1937 – 31 December 2022)

Richard A. Kops passed away on December 31, 2022, at a young 85 years of age.

Dick, as he was known to most, was born January 17, 1937, at home in the Clark County Township of Lynn, to Lillie (Widmer) and Lester Kops. He was the youngest of their 3 sons. They later bought his grandparent's family farm just north of Unity where Dick attended Unity Grade School, then graduated from Colby High School in 1955.

After graduation, Dick was employed with Packing Corp of America before beginning his lengthy 50 year career as a Dairy Inspector. He was well known and respected within the dairy farming communities throughout Wisconsin. That notoriety saved his life on an occasion where he visited a farm run by the infamous Posse Comitatus clan. While there conducting business, guns were pulled on Dick, thinking he was an intruder from the government. Thankfully he was recognized by one of the men, resulting in a peaceful resolution. During his retirement, Dick worked for the Township of Hull for many years until his health no longer allowed it.

He enjoyed his time there visiting with the area residents. In 1960, he married Sharon Kilty and purchased his first farm east of Cherokee. A few years later, he had the opportunity to buy the farm across from his family's homestead, north of Unity. There he raised hogs, sheep, goats, horses, and a tribe of children. He was as dedicated to raising his 7 children after his divorce as he was to his career in agriculture. A call day or night from one of his kids or a farmer in need, he was there for them. Later in life as his mother's health was declining, he sold his Unity farm to move to Cherokee to be with his mother. After her passing he bought his property up north, it may not have been in Alaska Las he always dreamed of, but it was still in the middle of nowhere, just like he wanted. There, he had an Amish built log cabin, where he lived a good wholesome life in nature. Dick was an avid outdoorsman who was enjoyed tending to horses, watching the bears and other wildlife around his property. He stayed as active as possible and even climbed the ladder to his log cabin loft's bedroom well into his 80's. Richard is dearly missed by many.

He is survived by his friend of over 30 years, Rose Laessig of Merrill, children Shari Kops of Weston, Donald Kops of Marshfield, Tara (Jayce) Abel of Stratford, Noelle Kops of Marshfield, Darcy (James) Plaskey of Auburndale, Matthew (Jenna) Kops of Stetsonville,16 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. He was preceded by his oldest son Rick in 2012, both parents, and his siblings and their wives, Leroy (Shirley) and Gerald (Evelyn) Kops.

Please join us in A Celebration Of Life for Richard on Saturday January 14, 2023, at the Otto H. Kops American Legion Post 358, 233 West 2nd Street, Unity WI at 2 p.m.