Donald E. Koopman

Donald E. Koopman (Don, Dad, Papa and Koop)
4/22/1935 - 5/18/2020

Our Dad knew the answer to every question, and when we were small we believed it to be true even though the answer was always the same: trick photography. As we got older, we also believed his answers because he was so smart, constantly reading and completed the daily crossword puzzle every morning with Mom, his puzzle partner, and watched Jeopardy in the evening.

At any one time, Dad was one of the seven dwarfs with the 8th dwarf being Hungry. The love he had for his wife, daughters, grandchildren and great grandchild was limitless. Somehow he was able to survive living in a house with 4 daughters, dogs, puppies, cats, kittens and one hamster.

Dad was born to parents Harold and Margaret Koopman in Cincinnati, OH. Three years later, along came brother, Larry. The family lived in Cincinnati and Mariemont before moving to Fairfield, which at that time was in the boondocks, but Dad loved living in the country. But unfortunately, Larry passed away in 1956.

After graduating from Fairfield HS in 1953, he received a scholarship to Ohio Wesleyan University and moved right into the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity house, believe me, it was nothing like Animal House. This was Dad's first step into becoming a professional nerd with pocket protectors and slide rules. In 1957, he graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Chemistry and Geology but made a pit stop at The Ohio State University before entering the scientific work world. He completed graduate classes and worked as a teaching assistant. In some cases, he would take the class one quarter and then turn around and teach it the next quarter. But we think that he went to OSU because Mom transferred there from Ohio Wesleyan to finish her Social Work degree. Thank goodness, otherwise we wouldn't be here.

On September 20, 1958, in Mariemont, OH, Mom and Dad got married and returned to school on Monday. What a honeymoon. After Mom graduated from OSU, Dad received a position with NCR as an X-ray Crystallographer which explains how our parents ended up in Dayton. As a research scientist at NCR, Dad worked with many scientists who would later become life-long friends. NCR greatly benefited from their research with a wide variety of patents especially in the field of liquid crystal displays used in products today. In addition, Dad continued to further his postgraduate education with The Ohio State University culminating in a Doctorate degree in Mineralogy in June, 1969, all the while having 4 daughters. Well Mom actually had the daughters with the last one being born a month before Dad's graduation ceremony.

Dad left NCR in the early 1970s to enter the world of entrepreneurship first with Djinni Industries, then MedTech with Bill Buirley and Dave McQuain-the three musketeers. Their research and development produced a medical piece of equipment that could detect breast abnormalities through heat patterns using a more sophisticated version of the technology that went into the mood ring (which they also manufactured) called thermography. Being a dad of 4 girls, detecting and treating breast issues was important to him and his partners. And we thank him for his knowledge and dedication.

Next Dad received a position as the Regulatory Affairs and Quality Assurance (RA/QA) officer for New Dimensions in Medicine (NDM) in Dayton. NDM produced medical equipment and devices as well as health care supplies. As Dad was reaching retirement age but was not ready to retire he became a consultant for Lipo Technologies in their research labs in Vandalia. Then on his 80th birthday, he finally retired permanently.

Dad loved to travel taking us on many vacations with the big one culminating in our out West trip over a 3-week period in the old Chevy Caprice Station Wagon. We went from Ohio to California and back. Business travel took him to Germany, England, France, Sweden, Hong Kong, China, South Korea and Haiti. Being such a country person, he enjoyed working at Dana's farmhouse and visiting relatives in Holgate, OH. Woodworking was a special interest of Dads, as we all have in our houses something that he made or fixed and we treasure it. He and Mom even remodeled their own kitchen in their early 80s. And before his passing they just finished decorating the downstairs bedroom and bath. In addition, he enjoyed cooking, especially soups and loved watching old western and war movies.

His greatest love was his family. All survive him. Married to Joyce for 61 years. Daughters: Christie Leis (Jeff), Connie Koopman, Dana Byrne (Tom) and Margaret Gauthier (Jeff). Grandchildren: Kellie Bodle (Seth), Chris and Jon Leis, Ally Halderman (Logan), Caitie Byrne, Abby, Luke and Matt Gauthier. Great Grandchildren: Jaxon Bodle and soon to arrive, Piper Joy Halderman.

As he did with his daughters, he was active in his grandchildrens' lives also. Attending vocal and band concerts, marching band events, soccer, volleyball, football, track, basketball, softball games, NHS inductions, plays, dance recitals, cheerleading events, Boys Scouts, 4H, high school and many college graduations. But the most special times were when he walked all 4 daughters down the aisle and being apart of Ally's medical school graduation where he presented her with her hood.

Special thanks to the doctors and nurses at Sycamore Hospital and Ohio Hospice of Butler and Warren Counties and family physician Dr. Steven Schaerer for the care given to Dad. Additional thanks to neighbor, Jim Halstead, for all his help over the years.

All of our memories of Dad are so special and we will hold on to them tight and know that you will watch over us until we meet again. We love and miss you.

No services are planned, but memorial donations may be made in Dad's name to Hospice of Dayton, 324 Wilmington Avenue, Dayton, OH 45420.