Frederic H. Copp

Frederic Harrison Copp, age 90, of Boulder Junction, passed away on Tuesday, June 5, 2012 at his home with family. He was born on May 26, 1922 in Kokomo, IN, the son of Harrison and Ruth (nee Learner) Copp. Frederic graduated from West Middleton High School in 1940 and attended Purdue University. He joined the Navy Seabees, where he served on Trinidad and Guam. While in the Navy, Frederic married Pearl Smith in 1943. After his discharge, he returned to the family farm in Kokomo. He and Pearl purchased the resort in Northern Wisconsin in 1947 and Copp's Cabins continues as a family business. In 1957, they moved north and he became a land surveyor for the State of Wisconsin. For a brief time, he was a partner at Northwoods Land Surveyors but returned to finish his career with the Department of Natural Resources. Frederic served the community on the Lakeland Union High School Board and served as President for 2 years. He was President of the Wisconsin Society of Land Surveyors, served on their Board of Trustees and is a life member. He was an active member and Elder of the Manitowish Waters Community Presbyterian Church, where he served on many committees and was an officer. Frederic served on the permanent judicial commission of the Presbytery of Northern Waters and the Board of Camp Galilee. He also served on the Boulder Junction Chamber of Commerce Board. Frederic was an expert on original land corner discovery and spoke about this to land surveying organizations throughout the Midwest and at the National Land Surveyors Congress in Washington D.C.. There was hardly a mechanical device that he couldn't repair. Frederic was generous and truly cared for fellow human beings. He is preceded in death by his parents; son, David and sister, Julia Anne George. Frederic is survived by his loving wife of 69 years, Pearl; daughter, Janet Ahrens (Paul); son, Bruce Copp (Jill); grandchildren, Sarah Ahrens, M.D. (Ryan Erisman), Samuel Ahrens (Allison), Laura Kooistra (Nathan), David Copp and Susan Tanberg (Eric); great-grandchildren Hazel and Karsten Erisman and other family and friends. A Memorial Service will be held at 2:30 PM on Saturday, June 9, 2012 at Manitowish Waters Community Presbyterian Church, with a memorial gathering one hour prior to the service at the church. A time of fellowship will follow after the service. Memorials may be given to the Community Church or to the local food pantry.