William Kopp M.D.

1928 - 2026

William Louis Kopp, M.D., longtime Madison resident died peacefully on January 26, 2026 at age 97 in Houston. He was born to Louis and Louise Kopp in Chicago on November 7, 1928 and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where his father owned a local pharmacy. He received his higher education at University of Michigan, which he attended with great pride, earning B.S, M.D., and master's degrees. He met his future wife during many summers at Interlochen Music Camp in northern Michigan. Bill was a percussionist (tympani) and Alice was a violinist. They shared passions for music and lifelong learning. He married Alice Martin of Sikeston, Missouri in 1955. Bill served as a Captain in the U.S. Army Medical Corps caring for soldiers and their families in post-World War II Germany. Their two sons were born in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The family moved to Madison in 1962, where he initially served at the Middleton VA and later at St. Mary's Hospital/Dean Clinic as an internist with a subspeciality in allergy and immunology. After over 30 years in private practice, he retired to warmer climates in Jackson, Mississippi and finally Houston, Texas.

He was preceded in death by Alice, his wife of 55 years, his parents and his brother Thomas. He is survived by two sons, Thomas (Rebecca Howard) of Georgia, and Douglas (Paula) of Madison; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren, all of whom were a source of great pride to him.

Bill always recognized the importance of the nursing profession and established a fund for advanced nursing education. Memorial gifts can be made to the Kopp Nursing Scholarship Endowment at SSM Health St. Mary's Foundation, 700 S. Park St., Madison, WI 53715 or visit www.givetossmhealth.org/stmarysfoundation.

Per his wishes, a private memorial gathering will occur at a later date.