PAUL KOPACHYNSKI

May 31st, 1939 - December 15th, 2025
It is with profound sadness and broken hearts that the family of Powell "Paul" Kopachynski announce his passing after a courageous short battle with cancer in his 86th year on December 15th, 2025 with loving family by his side.

Dad was born May 31st, 1939 in Pardee Township to Stanley and Julia Kopachynski who immigrated from Poland years prior. He was the youngest of 7 children, having 3 brothers and 3 sisters.

Paul had many joys and passions in his life and at the top of his list was family without question. Another of his lifetime loves was music. He and his brother Ted were a big part of the music scene locally throughout the 60's and 70's, and his proudest musical accomplishment was playing on the same stage with Grand Ole Opry stars like Loretta Lynn and Minnie Pearl when they would come through town back in the day. Dad was still playing gigs until he was 81, and Ted is still at it! Ted wasn't just a brother, he was dad's bandmate and his best friend for dad's entire life. Another love Dad had that he had to give up in the mid 80's was his Triumph motorcycle. He loved to ride and his 3 boys loved to ride with him. He always said " there's just something about the open air ".

Dad's work career started around 1957, after leaving high school early, with Canadian Steamship Lines as a deckhand working all the great lakes until 1960. Having his Maritime credentials, he tried his luck in B.C. with ocean liners. It wasn't meant to be and he ended up working in a paper mill for almost 2 years, then he came back to Ontario to "help mom with the farm ". In 1962 he got a job stocking shelves locally with Loblaws grocery store where he worked for 10 years, working his way up to Produce Manager. Then the entrepreneur in Dad came calling when he bought a car, and worked from Bay Taxi stand for the next 3 years. By this time, Mom and Dad had kids and Dad needed something with benefits. In the fall of 1974, Paul started working at Great Lakes Paper in the stud mill as a saw operator until he was injured in 1986, then was on modified duty until his retirement in 1997.

Dad met the love of his life Elizabeth "Betty" Spooner in August of 1965 and they got married in December the same year. They had 3 boys Thomas, John and Robert and were happily married until Mom's passing in 2013. Before Dad met Mom, he had a son with another woman who went straight into adoption. Dad had the pleasure of meeting John Whiteherst a couple summer's ago after DNA told him who his Dad was. Paul had some close companions after Betty's passing. Mary was a lifelong neighbor who Dad enjoyed spending time with until she passed and then ran into an old friend, Shirley who he spent a lot of time with until she passed earlier this year. But his one and only true love is our Mom Betty and us boys are elated that they're together again and Dad couldn't wait to be with her.

Paul is survived by his older brother Ted; children Thomas (Margaret), John (Sasha) and youngest son Robert; grandchildren Jami, Jakib (Tom) Rhiannon, Nathan, Amelia (John) and Taylor (Rob). Also survived by many nieces and nephews near and far. Dad was predeceased by his parents Stanley and Julia; siblings Janeane, Wanda, Stella, Edward and Philip, as well as the most important one of all, his loving wife of 48 years, Betty.

The family would like to give a special thanks to the doctors, nurses and staff at St. Joseph's Hospital for making Dad's last days pain free and peaceful. Paul's boys especially would like to thank family lifelong friend, Darlene Maki, for everything you have done to help Dad and us, and I know Mom is on the other side showering down her love for you.

Funeral Services for the late Mr. Paul Kopachynski will be held on Monday, January 12, 2026 at 11:00am in the WESTFORT CHAPEL, 420 West Gore Street at James. Interment will follow in Mountainview Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to Cancer research or the MS Society and are greatly appreciated.

Please sign the online condolences at everestofthunderbay.com