Funeral Services For Kenneth Koops

Kenneth J. Koops, 77, of Gettysburg, passed away, Saturday, April 22, 2017 at Avera Gettysburg Hospital.

A celebration of life will be held at 7:00 p.m., Saturday, April 29, 2017 at the United Methodist Church, Gettysburg with Pastor Jeff Adel presiding.

A celebration of life is also being held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, May 13, 2017 at the United Methodist Church, Verdigre, NE with Pastor Trudy Hanke presiding. Burial will follow in Riverside Cemetery, Verdigre, NE.

Kenneth John Koops, son of Carl and Mary (Hansen) Koops, was born on May 24, 1939, on a farm northwest of Bloomfield, Neb. Growing up, Kenny attended North View rural school before moving to Bloomfield with his family in 1947. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in his hometown. Kenny graduated from Bloomfield High School in 1957. After graduation, Kenny farmed in the Lindy area and worked at the sale barn in Bloomfield.

On Aug. 20, 1961, Kenny was united in marriage to Evon McFarland at the Methodist church in Bloomfield. They moved to a farm east of Bloomfield where they made their home. To this union, three children were born, Brent, Lisa and Dana. In 1971, he purchased the sale barn in Verdigre, Neb., and operated the facility for 14 years.  In 1984, he moved to Gettysburg, S.D., and purchased Potter County Livestock and operated the sale barn until the fall of 1998. Kenny delivered parts for NAPA, when needed, and began working for Foothills Contracting Inc. as a gravel checker shortly after leaving the sale barn. Kenny truly enjoyed his time working for Foothills and would often comment that he should have started working there as soon as he was out of high school. Kenny worked for Foothills until his diagnosis of cancer in late 2016. 

Kenny enjoyed spending time with his family and friends; loved horse racing; and owned several race horses throughout his lifetime. He really enjoyed debating politics with anyone willing to join the discussion. He loved helping out at the farm with the livestock, going to livestock sales and visiting with all of the buyers. He was very proud of his grandchildren and great grandchildren and had many words of wisdom to help guide them through life. He would strike up a conversation with everyone he met and will be truly missed by everyone who knew him. 

Kenny is survived by his wife of 56 years, Evon; son Brent (Tami Ellcey) of Gettysburg; daughters Lisa (Kevin Baumberger) of Gettysburg and Dana (Troy Maroney) of Brookings, S.D.; grandchildren, Stephanie (Steve Wenzl) of Milbank, S.D.; Joshua (Carissa) Koops of Huron, S.D.; Shaniah Koops of Vermillion, S.D.; Kylie Baumberger of Sioux Falls, S.D.; Halle and Jenna Maroney of Brookings; great grandchildren  Siera Wenzl, Kale Wenzl, Colton Pell, and Noah Koops; brother Alfred (LuVerne) Koops of Bloomfield; and many nieces, nephews and extended family.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Mary Koops, brother Melvin and his wife Evelyn Koops; sisters Henrietta and her husband Melvin Stewart; Elsie and her husband Elmer Moeller; Edna Mae and her husband Clyde Nelson; Dorothy and her husband Vernon Ziegler; grandson Lance Koops; nephews David Ziegler, Eugene Koops and Jeffrery Moeller; niece Linda Woods; and great niece Darci Stewart.

​Luce Funeral Home of Gettysburg, SD and Brockhaus Funeral Home of Verdigre, NE has been entrusted with Kenneth’s arrangements.

---