Keith Loper

1926 - 2012

Raymond Keith Loper

March 23, 1926

October 23, 2012

Keith Loper, 86, of Reno, Nevada passed away peacefully on Tuesday, October 23, 2012 at his home, with his wife Diane at his side.

Raymond Keith Loper was born in Olathe Colorado to Arthur and Octa Loper. At Olathe high school he excelled in football, baseball and basketball. 1944, Loper joined the military service and was assigned to the 25th Tactical Reconnaissance Squad.

In 1946 Loper enrolled at Colorado A & M, now Colorado State University. He continued his athletic career there playing football and baseball. He graduated in 1950 with a Bachelor of Science degree.

After graduation Keith married Diane Moorehead, they had five children: Ray, Kay, Kim, Kara, and Kandice and eight grandchildren: Cyreeta, Aliki, Brantley, Riley, Anabel, Abrielle, Ellary, and Ava.

Loper's first teaching/coaching job was at Superior High School in Wyoming from 1950 to 1951. From 1951 to 1954 he coached and taught at Center High School in Center, Colorado. He coached football, wrestling, and track while teaching math and biology. From 1954 to 1958 he taught and coached in Brighton, Colorado. He coached football, wrestling, track, and freshman basketball.

Loper's first college position was at Northwestern Junior College in 1958, he was head of the Bio-Science Department as well as the assistant football and head wrestling coach.

In 1959 Loper entered the master's program at the University of Oregon and received his degree in the summer of 1960. For the next seven years Loper taught at Whitman College. He was head wrestling, football and baseball coach. He also taught physical education classes.

In 1967 the Loper family moved to Reno, where he was hired by the University as the head wrestling and assistant football coach. During his years at UNR he also coached tennis and baseball. In 1975 he became chairman of the Recreation, Physical Education and Dance Department. During his time as chairman he advised over 500 students and served on several University committees. He had a passion for teaching and helping students succeed. He was often heard saying that he was the luckiest man alive to have his job, he never felt like it was work. Loper had a love for the game of racquetball and could often be found taking his lunch break on the courts. He directed and promoted over 30 racquetball tournaments and played in all but one of them.

After retiring from UNR in 1994 Keith and his wife were able to spend quality time together; their love and friendship was a closeness that is rare. They enjoyed traveling and playing golf. He was a playful grandfather and could often be found around a table of grandkids playing cards. For the past thirty years he loved playing poker on Friday night with a great group of friends. Loper had just returned from a trip back east to see the fall colors and a cruise to Canada. He was a man who lived life to the fullest until his very last day.

A celebration to honor Keith Loper's life is planned for Monday, November 12th from 1:30-4:00pm at Joe Crowley Student Union in the ballroom. The family is asking that in lieu of flowers to please send donations to the Boys and Girls Club of the Truckee Meadows, 2680 East 9th Street Reno, NV 89512