Gloria Dawn Kopsack

Gloria Dawn Kopsack has one verse handwritten on the endpaper of her Bible-"But may it never be that I should boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world."
That bible is hardened, worn like the hands that had been turning through the pages time after time. Methodically she made it cover to cover eight times (all front cover to back cover, less one time she apparently thought it fitting to work through the books in reverse). In her last few decades, the daily routine was always coffee, bible, and prayer, concluding with the declaration of "Up and at 'em, Atom Ant!"
Gloria Lytle was born in the summer of 1939 in Bunola, Pennsylvania. Her grandparents, and the lessons from their farm, were the most formative during her childhood. It was on "the farm" where she learned how to work, spent endless days outside with her brother, lived off the land, and invented the ponytail hairstyle.
When she was 14 years old, one of the local boys returned from Alaska. He was adventurous and liked the outdoors. A year later, Gloria married Richard Kopsack, her husband of 42 years. In three months, they were off to Alaska. As a priceless treasure for her family, Gloria penned her life story. Of the move to Alaska she writes, "I knew nothing of homesteading at the time but adventure was in me. I always had the thought of never wanting to stay in the same town all my life anyway."
Turned out homesteading was hard work. Oh, the stories she told of raising her three children "up north" (Big Lake followed by Caswell). Deep snow was a reoccurring theme, as were animals like sled dogs, big fish, a pet bear, and countless ornery moose. It was a life that can only be truly understood by those who lived it. The Last Frontier was relentless, but so was Gloria.
Widowed in 1997, Gloria ultimately moved to Palmer where she lived next door to her youngest son and within 20 minutes from her other two children. She tended to her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, gardens, and her first ever modern home (gas heat and all! No more driving 50 miles to the grocery store). Selfless, strong, and stubborn oh, how we'll miss her!
Gloria died June 18, 2025. One moment she was in her home surrounded by family, the next moment she was surrounded by paradise. A beautiful reality that shaped her servant heart. When Gloria left her hometown at such a young age there were adventures ahead, yes, but many hardships inherent to raising a family in the world. However, the world was not her treasure and for that her family is forever grateful.
Gloria is preceded in death by her parents Raymond and Ruth Lytle, husband Richard Kopsack, and her brother Terry Lytle. Terry phoned from his home in Allegheny County every Sunday night. Their 3-hour conversations centered on raccoons, water levels in Terry's "crik," and the seeds they exchanged via mail.
She is survived by many - her three children: Braun Kopsack and his wife Valeria, Shelly Howard and her partner Randy Martin, Lance Kopsack and his wife Judi; her nine grandchildren: Seth Howard and his wife Melissa, Josh Howard and his wife Amanda, Robby Martin and his partner Heidi Russell, Cayla Martin, Lyon Kopsack, Jocelyn Keffalos and her husband Hunter, Alyson Amos and her husband Daniel, Brooklyn Kopsack, Legend Kopsack; her four great grandchildren: Tempest Cooley, Brinley Cooley, Noble Martin, Abigail Martin, and niece Lorieanne Lytle.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Real Life Church 10697 East Palmer-Wasilla Highway, Palmer, Alaska on Thursday, July 24, at 5:00pm.