Herman Franklin Schopper

He was born to William and Violet (Vezina) Schopper of Cass Lake, Minnesota, in 1933, one of seven children. He enjoyed a wild and free childhood in the wilderness of Northern Minnesota, where he taught himself to hunt and fish. He fell in love with Geraldine Kraskey while home from military service and proposed through the mail. They were married on July 12, 1958 and had four children over the next five years. Herman served on Air Force bases abroad, in Asia and Europe, as well as stateside, on the East Coast, in California, and in Kansas before settling in the Upper Peninsula. During his military career, he received the Air Force Commendation Medal, Joint Services Commendation Medal, and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. After thirty years, Herman retired as a Chief Master Sergeant from K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base and returned to the woods to “work for himself”. He’d had enough traveling and spent the last twenty-five years of his active life fishing, leeching, hunting, and trapping all of Upper Michigan. He will be remembered as a devoted husband, excellent cook, helluva poker player, and the only person who was never wrong.

Grieving his loss are his wife, Geraldine Schopper; his children, Herman Schopper, Allan (Barb) Schopper, and Shari (Michael) Gorney; sisters, Madeline and Geraldine; four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by three brothers and a sister.

All will miss his slow cooked meals and Christmas fudge, his smile, and his stories. He was always the hero of his own stories.

The family would like to express their appreciation to the staff of the Jacobetti Home for Veterans for their professional and compassionate care of Herman and for the many kindnesses extended to his family.

Private family graveside services, with veterans honors, will be held at the Park Cemetery, Marquette.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Jacobetti Home for Veterans Activity Fund, 425 Fisher Street, Marquette, MI 49855.

Fassbender Swanson Hansen Funeral and Cremation Services is serving the family, where condolences may be expressed online at fassbenderswansonhansen.com