Delores “Laurie” E. Kopenhafer, 92, was called to Glory, Friday, May 29, 2026, at Liberty Village. She was born January 24, 1934, to Arnim and Adeline (Hagen) Gilner on the family farm in the Town of LaGrange. She was a member of the Tomah Senior High School Graduating Class of 1951. Laurie was united in marriage to John Kopenhafer on October 3, 1953, at St. Mary’s Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. He preceded her in death on March 1, 2014. She first was a waitress at the Café in Tomah, then started working at the A & P Grocery Store, then went to work for Van-Pack in Tomah until her retirement on May 29, 1998. Laurie loved spending her time with her family. She was very involved in her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren lives. She enjoyed traveling; she traveled to see her sons, she took trips to the casino to play bingo and the slot machines and enjoyed taking trips around town and country drives. Laurie was a faithful member of St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church and helped out when needed. She was hardworking and had a kind and loving heart. Laurie never complained about anything and always had good things to say about others. She will be sadly missed by all that knew and loved her.
She is survived by her 2 sons, John M. (Alyssa) of Franktown, CO, Steven of South Bend, IN, and a daughter Paula (Mark) Epps of Tomah, 11 Grandchildren, Nathan (Brianna) Kopenhafer, Lexie (Arin) Tufts, Hannah (Daniel) Miller, Aubrey (Jimmy) Seela, Janice (Alan) Schaaf, Jason (Jennifer) Kopenhafer, Julie (Justin) Peterman, Jacob Kopenhafer, and Crystal Horning, Joshua (Sara) Epps and Tiffany (Rick) Johnson, 20 great-grandchildren, Braden, Ansley, Gideon, Sutton, Gage, Caylin, Gracie, Caleb, Maddie, Emma, Rodney, Charlee, Rylee, PJ, Ava, Mason, Mariah, Kaylynn, Trevor, and Macenzie, 2 sisters-in-law, Elizabeth “Pinky” O’reskie, and Rosemary Pliner, and a brother-in-law Jim Kopenhafer, many other nieces, and nephews and other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her father-in-law and mother-in-law Rose and Harley Kopenhafer, brother and sister-in-law Duane (Delores) Gilner.
A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, June 12, 2026, 11:00 A.M. at St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church, 525 Superior Ave. Tomah, WI. Pastor Mark Kahrs will officiate. Burial will be in the Mount Vernon Cemetery.
Relatives and friends are invited to call on Friday at the church from 9:30 A.M. until the time of the service. Online condolences may be sent to www.sonnenburgfamilyfh.com. The Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home
