32nd Generation

328. Merle Edwin KOOPMAN (~) was born on 6 June 1913 in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI.^103,143,322 He appeared in the census in 1920 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁹⁰ He appeared in the census in 1930 in New Lisbon, Juneau County, WI.^{315 184,479} In the Meadow Valley news section: "Merle Koopman of New Lisbon spent all of last week doing cadet work in our school."

According to letters that one of his cousins, Vern Griggs, wrote to his sister Blanche in 1936, Merle served in the Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC's) in Hayward, WI. At one time, he and Vern bunked next to each other. Merle appeared in the census in 1940 in Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, WI.⁴⁵⁵ His household was at 2903 West Michigan Street and his occupation was "Blacksmith Helper, Railroad Shop." His total wages in 1939 were $750. He lived in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI in 1949.^251,299 His family lived at 523 West Jackson Street. (He and his family cannot be located anywhere in Wisconsin in the 1950 Census.) He died on 1 January 1998 at the age of 84 in Cedarburg, Ozaukee County, WI.^103,143 Obituary Notes: "Merle E. Koopman, 84, of Cedarburg and formerly of Tomah, died Wednesday evening at his home in Cedarburg. He was born to Edward and Mabel (Griggs) Koopman on June 6, 1913. On Sept. 16, 1937, in Illinois, Merle was united in marriage to Florence Mensing. He worked as a blacksmith for the Milwaukee Road railroad in Tomah.

Merle loved woodworking and gardening and enjoyed bowling in the Cedarburg Senior Leagues. He was a member of the Methodist Church.

He is survived by his wife, Florence Koopman of Cedarburg; one daughter, Laura Bradley of Frisco, Colo.; one son, Edward (Sharon) Koopman of Cedarburg; a sister, Lucille (Gordon) Reisenauer of West Allis; two grandchildren, Michael and Todd Koopman of Cedarburg; and other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Milo Koopman; one sister, Mildred Mack; and one son-in-law, Tom Bradley."

Merle was buried on 7 January 1998 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^103,143,319 in the Oak Grove Cemetery.

Merle Edwin KOOPMAN (~) and Florence M. MENSING were married on 16 September 1937 in Lake County, IN.^103,143,480 Florence M. MENSING, daughter of Leopold Wilhelm A. MENSING and Ernestina SCHOENKE, was born on 3 March 1916 in Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, WI.^103,481 She appeared in the census in 1940 in Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, WI.⁴⁵⁵ Her occupation was "Telephone Operator, Telephone Company" and her total wages in 1939 were $1,035. She died on 23 February 2004 at the age of 87 in Cedarburg, Ozaukee County, WI.^103,481 Obituary Notes: "A funeral service will be held Saturday, Feb. 28, 2004, at 11 a.m. at Mueller Funeral Home, Cedarburg, for Florence M. Koopman (nee Mensing), 87, who died at Lasata Care Center on Feb. 23, 2004. Visitation will be on Saturday from 10 a.m. until time of the service. Interment will be at Oak Grove Cemetery, Tomah.

Florence was born March 3, 1916, in Milwaukee, the daughter of the late Leo and Ernestine (nee Schoenke) Mensing. She married the late Merle on Sept. 16, 1937. Florence worked for over 20 years at North-West Telephone Company in Tomah. She enjoyed quilting and artistic painting.

Florence is survived by her children, Edward (Sharon) Koopman and Laura (Duane) Hunt; grandchildren, Michael and Todd Koopman, and further survived by other relatives and friends."
Florence was buried on 28 February 2004 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁰³ in the Oak Grove Cemetery.

Merle Edwin KOOPMAN (~) and Florence M. MENSING had the following children: