Kenneth W. Koopman

Kenneth William Koopman, proud of his Sicilian roots and larger-than-life spirit, passed away September 21, 2025 in his home in Albany, NY at the age of 80.

Born July 26th, 1945 in Manhattan to Francis Koopman and Josephine Doro: he was the youngest of three brothers.Growing up in New York City, Kenneth knew his way around and made many connections with people not just in New York but in all the places that he lived throughout his life; he always knew how to work his way into your heart. In the 90s, he moved upstate where he worked faithfully for the state and was a dedicated member of the union: CSEA, standing up for fairness and the people he worked alongside as “The Peanutman”. For which he received many acclamations from his peers.

Faith was a cornerstone of his life. He often said, “religion, family, football,” and he lived by those words. His devotion to his faith guided his choices, grounded him in times of challenge, and gave him strength and purpose. To him, religion was not just a belief but a way of life, woven into his love for family and the traditions he held dear. He had a way of making every room brighter—and sometimes louder—just by being in it.

He will be remembered for his humor, his pride in who he was, and his unwavering presence in the lives of those who loved him.

He is survived by his children: Katrina Simmons, Nicholas Koopman, two other daughters, Celine Schultz, his grandchildren: Brody Simmons, Cooper Simmons, and his older brother George Koopman. He will be deeply missed and forever cherished.

A public visitation and memorial service will be held at New Comer Cremations & Funerals, 181 Troy Schenectady Road, Colonie, New York 12189 on Friday, October 3, 2025 from 5:00pm to 6:00pm with a service performed by Grace Fellowship to begin at 6:00pm.