Peter Koopman

1931 - 2022

Peter Koopman
Dec 24, 1931- Jan 10, 2022
Campbell, CA
Peter George Koopman died on Monday, January 10, 2022, in Santa Clara Kaiser Hospital at the age of 90. Peter was a long-time resident of San Jose, CA, and later of Merrill Gardens senior living in Campbell, CA. He will always be remembered as a wonderful husband, a great father, a gracious friend and an advocate for anyone needing help.
Pete was born on December 24, 1931, in Charlevoix, Michigan. He grew up in a number of communities across Michigan, Iowa, and California as his father, a minister, served different churches during the Great Depression.
Pete earned his Master of Divinity at McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago in 1955, where he sat in class in front of Patrica Norton. After completing a summer stint with the Army in New York State, he drove his '49 Ford 2,200 miles west to marry Patricia at her home church in Bozeman, MT. Pete then accepted a pastorate at the Presbyterian Church in Sinclair WY, where their daughters Barbara and Kay were born.
In 1960, Pete and Patty moved to Casper, WY, to organize the Shepherd of the Hills Presybyterian Church, where he served as pastor for eight years. His son Tom was born during this time.
In 1965, Pete and Patty became active in the Civil Rights and Anti-War movements. In 1968, their activism led them to San Jose, CA, where Pete accepted a call with new church development and started the Now Church. He worked with fellow clergy to promote the United Farm Workers Movement and started the Santa Clara Valley Coalition, a community organizing group. Pete was an enthusiastic supporter of the LGBTQ+ community, and he and Patty were active members of PFLAG for many years.
Later in his career, Pete served as the campus minister at San Jose State before becoming a financial planner at Penn Mutual. He continued to officiate weddings, and married 517 couples in his lifetime, ending with his daughter Kay's wedding in 2008. After retirement, he happily took on a third career as a full time grandparent. He will be greatly missed by his grandchildren, who fondly knew him as the "biggest buzzard."
Pete enjoyed good health well into his late 80s, frequenting the Los Gatos Creek Trail and the Merrill Gardens fitness center. He found joy in taking family trips to Cannon Beach, OR, and watching the San Jose Sharks and the Golden State Warriors.
Peter is survived by Patricia, his wife of 67 years, his children, Barbara (Robert) Cooper of Corning, NY, Kay (Melanie) Koopman-Glass of Los Angeles, CA, and Thomas Koopman of San Jose, CA, and his grandchildren, Lilah Koopman-Glass, Grace Cooper, Laura Cooper, Erica Koopman-Glass, Sara Koopman, Marian Cooper, Pearl Cooper, and Derek Koopman.
In accordance with his wishes, Pete's body was donated to Stanford Medical Center. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the charity of your choice.


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