Obituary of Ryan D. Kopka

Ryan Douglas Kopka, age 27, of Palmyra, Michigan formerly of Dundee and Hastings, Minnesota, passed away suddenly at his home on Friday, January 18, 2013. He was born in Monroe, Michigan January 24, 1985 the son of Scott A. Kopka and Rachele M. (Larkin) Knerr. He graduated from Dundee High School in 2003. He served in the US Army as a Spc. E-4, from 2003 until 2008 and was stationed at Georgia, Texas, Japan, Guam, Hawaii, Frederick, Maryland, Kenya and Hastings, Minnessota. Ryan was on the Dundee High School swim team, diving team, track team, in 12th grade he was a drum major and was in drama club. He loved the performing arts. He attended the Cordon Bleu Culinary School in Minneapolis and graduated from the Wind Turbine Program, M.I.A.T. in Canton . Survivors include his life partner Christopher Manship of Palmyra, his father Scott of Blissfield, mother and step father Rachele and Eric Knerr of Petersburg; stepmother Lori Kopka (Gary Coomer) of Blissfield; brothers Jakob Kopka of Blissfield and Nikolas Kopka of Blissfield and Kirk Knerr of Petersburg; step sisters Amber Jarrell of Petersburg; and Lauren Coomer of Toledo, Ohio; nephew Ashton Kopka; grandparents Kay (Cookie) Kopka of Dundee, Harold Kopka of Milan, Bernice and Raymond Hoover of Petersburg; step grandparents Lynn Emerick of Monroe and Walter Knerr of Petersburg. He was preceded in death by a brother Jason Kopka and step grandmothers Gloria Knerr and Wanda Emerick. Friends may call Friday from 12 – 8 P.M. at Cover Funeral Home, 297 Tecumseh Street in Dundee (734-529-3156). He will lie In state on Saturday from 10 AM until service at 11 AM at the Dundee United Methodist Church. Officiating will be Rev. Paul Donelson, Mr. Sam Pooley and Mr. Cliff Beuhrer. Interment will follow at Maple Grove Cemetery in Dundee with graveside military honors conducted by the Dundee Veterans Memorial Group. Memorials may be made to the family. Online condolences may be made at www.coverfuneralhome.com