Loretta Koppenhofer

DEFIANCE - Loving Mother, Grandmother, and Great-Grandmother Loretta M. Koppenhofer, peacefully passed away at Kingsbury Place in Defiance on Friday, April 5, 2024, in the early morning, at the age of 96.

Loretta was born on the family farm in rural Napoleon to Carl Sr and Mary (Precht) Dietrich, on October 17, 1927, the third of five children. She was baptized as a baby at St. John Lutheran Church, Freedom Twp., Napoleon. Loretta graduated from Ridgeville Corners High School. On April 20, 1947, she married Arthur Koppenhofer Jr, who preceded her in death in 2015. After living in Holgate, Ohio, the family moved to Defiance in 1956. Loretta was a stay at home mother for the first part of her marriage, until her youngest daughter went to school. She then worked for Revco Drugstore, in Defiance, for 28 years until her retirement.

Art and Loretta loved to walk from their house on Westfield to the Northside of Defiance to have coffee with friends at Kmart, and then Burger King. She also loved being with her family at Sunday dinners, their after-school activities, taking them to school, and going on family vacations to Myrtle Beach. Loretta enjoyed spending Sundays with her brother and sister watching Lawrence Welk, and playing cards. She liked to sit in lawn chairs on her driveway talking with neighbors. Loretta could usually be found watching Fox News or playing solitaire. She was a faithful member of St. John Lutheran Church, Defiance, and helped with Meals on Wheels. After the death of her husband, Art, she lived independently and moved into Kingsbury Place, where she had daily visits by her daughters. Loretta's most loved saying to her visitors was "You don't need to leave yet, do you?"

Loretta is survived by her loving daughters, Sandy (Dave) Pergram, and Lori (Jody) Zeller, both of Defiance, OH, a brother, Ronald Dietrich of Napoleon, Ohio, 6 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Arthur Koppenhofer, two sisters, Donelda Dietrich and Hildegard Ludeman, a brother, Carl Dietrich, Jr., and a great-grandson, Angelo Ciancolo.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, April 11, 2024, from 9:30 a.m. - 11 a.m. at St. John Lutheran Church in Defiance. Funeral services will follow at 11 a.m. at the church, with Rev. Kurt Mews officiating. Burial will take place in the Riverview Memory Gardens.

Schaffer Funeral Home was honored to assist the family with arrangements.

Memorials are suggested to St. John Lutheran Church or Elara Hospice. The family would like to thank Rev. Kurt Mews, and also the dedicated and kind staff of Kingsbury Place, and Elara Hospice, for the love and care shown to Loretta. Online condolences can be given at www.Schafferfh.com.