John D. Copple

John D. Copple, 87, a longtime rural Stewartville,MN resident died on Wednesday (April 23, 2025) of natural causes at his home in Stewartville,MN.

John Dean Copple was born on  October 29, 1937 in Bancroft, Nebraska to Charles and Frieda (Munderloh) Copple.  He grew up in Rosalie,NE. He attended school there and graduated from Rosalie H.S. in 1956.   John then entered the U.S. Marines and served for 2 years.  After his discharge he moved to Minnesota and was employed at the Kahler Hotel in Rochester,MN. It was there that he met his future wife, Ardis J. Everts. John and Ardis were married at Immanuel Lutheran Church, in Pleasant Valley Twsp,MN on June 26, 1960. Following their marriage the couple lived in Denver, CO. where their 2 children were born and John was employed with Martin Marietta Corp, in their space program. They moved back to rural Stewartville in 1964. John was employed at IBM in Rochester for 36 years until his retirement. Ardis was a homemaker and was also employed at Mayo Clinic in Rochester for a number of years until her retirement.

John was a longtime active member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Stewartville. For many years John enjoyed his “Hobby Farm” and gardening. During his retirement years he also did custom wood sawing with a portable sawmill, had a woodworking shop plus became an “apiarist” for a number of years. He was a member of the SE Minnesota Bee Association and had recently volunteered with a crocheting group at Zion Lutheran Church in Stewartville, creating sleeping mats for homeless people. He had a life-long passion for reading and enjoyed  hunting and fishing with family and friends. Most of all John liked spending time with family, especially with his grandchildren, which were a continuing delight throughout his life.

John is survived by his wife – Ardis;  son - John Copple of Tuscon,AZ; daughter - Gwen (Jon) Hunt of Bemidji,MN; 3 grandchildren - Justin (Mandy) Hunt, Jessica Hunt and Amanda (Kyle) Huewe:  3 great grandchildren -  Piper Hunt, Joey Hunt and Jonathan Huewe; In-laws - Donald Everts of Memphis,TN, Alice (Al) Wendt of rural Stewartville and Debra Morton of Tuscon,AZ and numerous nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents, 6 siblings and their spouses.                                                                             

A memorial service for John will take place at 11:00 AM on Monday (April 28, 2025) at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Stewartville with Rev. Justin Kumfer  officiating. Burial with military graveside honors by Stewartville American Legion Post 164 will follow at St. Johns Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery in rural Racine Twsp. A time of visitation will take place on Sunday (April 27, 2025) from 3 to 5:00 PM at Griffin-Gray F.H.  in Stewartville and 1 hr. prior to the service at the church on Monday morning. Arrangements are with Griffin-Gray F.H. in Stewartville. Condolences and memories of John are welcome at www.griffin-gray.com

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