Dan Copeland

Dan was born October 4, 1967, in Salem, Ohio, to Jo (née Bowling) and Gene Copeland. His early years were spent in Columbus, Indiana, before his family moved to Colorado in 1976.

Dan graduated from Fairview High School in Boulder. During high school, he was selected to be on the original Burton Snowboard Demo Team. He attended the University of Colorado Boulder, earning his Bachelor’s degree in English Literature and was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. Throughout high school and college Dan played for the Boulder Valley Lacrosse Club and CU Lacrosse Team, winning Colorado State Runner Up with his teammates during his senior year of high school. Dan later blended his love of snowboarding and teaching as a professional snowboard instructor at the Breckenridge Ski and Ride School from 2008 - 2017.

Dan began his teaching career in 1997, the same year that he became a father of twin daughters. Throughout his 27-year career at Estes Park High School, Dan was adored by his students, and he served as the newspaper faculty coordinator, yearbook teacher, and high school girls’ and boys’ golf coach. He and his students won the Whispering Pines Yearbook of the Year in 2016. As a lifelong learner, Dan earned his Master’s of Education from Lesley University in 2018. In 2023, Dan was elected by his peers for the honor of Estes Park School District Teacher of the Year.

Dan’s wide variety of interests saw him spending his summers working part-time at the Estes Park Golf Course Pro Shop and any free moment he had exploring his immense love for the arts and music, namely the Grateful Dead, Beastie Boys, and the new wave genre. Dan also rocked out in his bands Gauchos del Amore from 1993 to 1996, and in Mt. Pilot from 1996 to 1997. He wrote poetry and created a short film that won Best Picture in Seattle’s DRG Film Festival. Dan was also a longtime softball player in Boulder and later he played with the Bad News Beers team in Estes Park.

On June 3, 2018, Dan met the love of his life and “married the heck out of her” one year later on the Oregon coast. He loved spending time with his wife, Erin Copeland, of Estes Park, and their four children: Grace & Alyssa Copeland of Broomfield, CO; and Mae & Austin Tice of Estes Park. Together, they enjoyed hiking, cooking, camping, goofing around, playing games, dance parties, cauldron fires, going to concerts, spending time with friends and family, and hanging out with their dog, Nea.

Dan is also survived by a large extended family, including his parents, Gene & Betty Jo Copeland of Windsor, CO; brother and wife, Patrick & Nga Copeland of Seattle, WA; sister, Michelle Copeland Peebles of Broomfield, CO; honorary sister and husband Patricia & Florian Splett of Virginia; father-in-law Steve Deats of Johnstown, CO; brother-in-law Dan Deats of Centennial, CO; nephews Jayden Peebles, Will, & Nick Copeland; Gabriel & David Splett; nieces Tionna Peebles and Rebecca Splett. Additionally, Dan was blessed with uncles, aunts, cousins, and dear friends living all across the country.

Dan is preceded in death by his grandparents Sulvan & Nancy Bowling and Ross & Laura Copeland; mother-in-law Cynthia Deats; and niece Amanda Peebles.

Dan was an inspiration to those who knew him and was a positive light in the community.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, January 20, 2024, at 2 pm in the Estes Park Resort Ballroom 1700 Colorado Peaks Drive, Estes Park, CO 80517. Reception and refreshments will follow.

In remembrance of Dan Copeland's beautiful life, the family asks that any charitable donations be made to the Estes Park Education Foundation. https://www.coloradogives.org/donate/EPEF Treasured memories of Dan and stories of how he made an imprint your lives are more than welcome at www.allnuttestespark.com.