Mostly Cloudy, 51° F
(Sept. 20, 2003)
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated today (Thursday, Sept. 25) at 10 a.m. at St. Barbara's Catholic Church for James J. Kopriva, 65, who died Saturday, Sept. 20 at Rocky Mountain Manor in Powell.
Burial will follow in Crown Hill Cemetery with the Powell Veterans Honor Guard according honors.
Mr. Kopriva was born in Seattle, Wash., on June 23, 1938, to Andrew and Margaret Kopriva. He was graduated from James Lick High School in San Jose, Calif.
He was a graduate of Northwest Community College in Powell and continued his education at the University of Wyoming.
In 1956, his parents moved to Powell. He joined the Wyoming National Guard in 1957 where he served during the Berlin Crisis. Following an honorable discharge, he went into law enforcement.
In 1964, he married Ardis Wall from Pavillion.
He served with the Wyoming Highway Patrol and the Albany County and Park County Sheriff's Department. He served on the Powell City Council, the Crown Hill Cemetery Board and on the board of the Powell Country Club.
In 1996, he retired after a 27-year career in law enforcement. He was then employed at Northwest College as evening security.
Once introduced to golf, he discovered he had talent for the game and enjoyed it immensely, including the friendships that followed.
Survivors include a son, Joseph, of Powell; a daughter, Mary Gollmer, two grandchildren, Nick and Kylie, all of Phoenix, Ariz.; and two brothers, Peter of Fresno, Calif., and Tom of San Jose, Calif.
He was a member of St. Barbara's Catholic Church in Powell. His family is comforted in the knowledge that he has touched their lives and the lives of many friends and will be greatly missed.
Miratsky-Easton Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
