Erika Kopp

After living through so much and leading a life of resilience and love, Erika Kopp of Lannon passed away on June 18, 2025 at 104 years of age! She was born in Germany on December 24, 1920, the daughter of Richard and Maria (Troppmann) Weidmeier. During WWII she worked as a nurse in Germany where she developed incredible strength and a strong work ethic. Erika married Gottlob Kopp on November 13, 1948. In 1954 she immigrated to the United States with her husband and son, Peter and learned English by watching TV and reading the newspaper. Erika never lost her touch at creating delicious German food including her incredible dumplings and spaetzle, at least 6 loaves of bread each week, and many tasty cakes. She had a green thumb that never stopped, and she found great joy in tending to her gardens: flowerbeds for beauty, and vegetables that were deliciously canned in volumes to feed her family all winter. Every year she prepared 10 gallons in the sauerkraut crock, 15 gallons in the wooden cast for currant/raspberry wine, and two 50-gallon wooden casts for hard apple cider. Erika made her way around town by bicycle or walking until the death of her husband, Gottlob in 1977, when she learned to drive at age 57. She cared deeply for her family and gave all of herself to the people she loved. Erika shaped generations with her strength, grace and heart and taught her children and grandchildren the meaning of family, the value of hard work, and the quiet power of unconditional love.

She will be sadly missed by her loving and devoted sons, Peter (Mary) Kopp and Robert (Mary Lou) Kopp; her cherished grandchildren, Daniel (Patty) Kopp, Bethany (Walter) Gola, Monica (Brad) Drobka, Andrea (Andrew) Westerhausen and Rollie Ryan and her great-grandchildren, Laurel, Mason, Joe, Mia, Tom, Braden, Morgan, Christian, Isaiah, Isabel, Imelia, Ilijah and Iszach. She is further survived by other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband Gottlob and her brother and parents in Germany.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, July 1, 2025 from 10:00 a.m. until the 11:00 a.m. memorial service at Faith Lutheran Church, W244 S6383 Weaver Drive, Sussex, WI 53089. Reception to follow at church. Private burial will be at Sunnyside Cemetery in Lannon. If desired, memorials are appreciated to Faith Lutheran Church.