Eldon Koplin

Passed away peacefully April 14, 2016

He took great pride in serving our country as a Staff Sergeant with the U.S. Marines during World War II and earning two battle stars while in the South Pacific. He was with the Marines on the first day of the invasion of Okinawa. Born to parents John "Jack" and Luella (Bubs) Koplin in Spink Township of Union County, South Dakota, where he grew up on a farm, he joined the Marines in World War II. After the war, he returned home to attend the University of South Dakota where he ran track and played baseball. From early on he was a Cardinals baseball fan. He earned a Doctorate of Education at the University of Greeley, Colorado, and later became a full professor at Winona State University in the Education Department. He was a kind teacher and a loving father who enjoyed hunting, fishing and playing golf with his children. He loved caring for many pet cats and dogs throughout his lifetime. He was a wonderful grandfather who freely gave of his time to his five grandchildren, and spoke often of each of them with much pride and love. Eldon is now united and resting in God's heaven with those that preceded him in death; his parents, brother John "Jack" Koplin and sister Norma Morehead. He is survived by his wife Alverta of Woodbury, MN; son Brett ( Karla) Koplin and their children John "Jack", Eva and Siri of Rochester, MN; daughter Michelle ( Doug) Morris and their children Amanda and Olivia of Woodbury, MN; brother Ronald Koplin of San Diego, CA; sister Shirley Lauters of Fresno, CA; and sister Lorraine Hoffman of Shreveport, LA and many other loving relatives and friends, all of whom deeply grieve his passing as a loving husband, father, grandfather and brother. Eldon will be interred in a private family ceremony at Fort Snelling National Cemetery.