Betty Lou Kopatz,88, passed away at 5:36 a.m. on November 11, 2017, at Vonderlieth Living Center in Mt. Pulaski, IL.
Betty was born on January 28, 1929, in Lincoln, IL; daughter of Theodore and Cleva (Brashear) Aderman. She married Carl Kopatz on June 18, 1966. He preceded her in death on November 15, 2016.
Surviving Betty is her son: Rev Dr. Perry Kopatz of Phoenix, AZ; two grandchildren: Jeremy Kopatz and Christine Kopatz both of Phoenix, AZ; two great-grandchildren: Peyton Rose Kopatz and Ryden Quinn Kopatz; one nephew: Don Zelle of St. Louis, MO; one niece: Deborah (Jim) Stahl of Sherman, IL. She was preceded in death by her parents, one sister: Mildred Aderman Haynes, and two aunts: Alma Bridges and Ann Brashear.
Until age 17, she lived on the Elias Buckles farm west of Mt. Pulaski. She graduated from Buckles Grade School and Mt. Pulaski Township High School. She then graduated from Millikin University in Decatur, IL received a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in art and a minor in science. She took classes in Normal at the University Of Illinois and did graduate work at S.I.U. in literature and writing.
She taught school kindergarten through eighth grade as well as art and music for grades one through six and science for grades one through four. She taught for 20 plus years in several communities in Illinois and Prince Georges County, Maryland with poetry writings published in several anthologies.
Betty worked one year as a district director for the Land Of Lincoln Girl Scouts and two years at The Franklin Life in Springfield, IL. She was a member of Mt. Pulaski Historical Society and the Zion Lutheran Church of Mt. Pulaski.
Services for Betty will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, November 17, 2017, at Zion Lutheran Church in Mt. Pulaski, IL with Rev. Jonathan Buescher officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to service also at the church. Burial at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield, IL will follow the service. Memorials may be made in Betty’s name to Zion Lutheran Church of Mt. Pulaski. Services are entrusted to Fricke-Calvert-Schrader Funeral Home in Mt. Pulaski, IL.
