Richard J. Koplitz

Richard J. Koplitz

Richard James Koplitz was born in Minneapolis on March 11, 1923 to Ruth and Wilbur Koplitz. He was the oldest of four children.

He graduated from Roosevelt High School in Minneapolis in 1941. After attending Augsburg College for one year he enlisted in the United States Army and served in the Air Corps until the end of the World War 2. He saw action in Europe as a radioman/navigator in the C-47 and the Mitchell Marauder.

After his service he returned to Augsburg and graduated in 1948 with a teaching degree. His first teaching job was in Cottonwood, Minnesota. While there he also served as the head coach for football, basketball and baseball. And drove the bus to away games. It was in Cottonwood that he met the love of his life, Dorothy Varpness. They married and had four sons: Paul, Thomas, David, and Mark. Their happy marriage lasted 64 years, until Dorothy died in 2015.

After ten years at Cottonwood, Dick took a teaching job in Silver Bay. He taught there for two years and then went into business with his father, managing the Ransford Hotel in Brainerd. Dick decided he missed teaching and in 1964 he went back to college, graduating from Bemidji State with a Masters degree. He then moved his family to the Twin Cities, where he was on the first teaching staff of Minneapolis Community College. He taught there until his retirement in 1985.

Summers were spent on family camping trips that would last for weeks. Dorothy joked that it was a good thing there were oceans or Dick would just keep driving. Upon retiring, Dick and Dorothy continued to travel. They went to Europe many times and especially enjoyed Paris and Prague. They spent many winters in Arizona.

Dick was preceded in death by both parents, his sister Ruth, and a granddaughter, Erin. He is survived by Paul (Barbara) of Coleraine, grandson Matthew, and great grandson, Caiden; Thomas (Julie) of Cambridge and grandsons Michael, Timothy (Adrienne), and Eric (Calli); David of Eden Prairie; and Mark (Monica) of Apple Valley and grandson Jordan, and granddaughters Lindsay and Kayla; his sister Mary; his brother Ron; dear friend Jeanne Madson; and close friend Jean Davis.