Donald Robert Foppiano

to Leslie Francis Foppiano and Ida Cardoza Foppiano. After graduating from San Mateo High School he joined the United States Navy and served on a Liberty ship in the Pacific until the end of World War Two. After the war ended, he enrolled in UCLA and graduated in 1948 with a BA in Business Administration. In 1949 he married Katherine Selover and moved to the bay area where he became a Bank Examiner for the FDIC where he covered six western states. A few years later they moved from San Francisco to the San Joaquin Valley where he took a position as Treasurer with Hammonds Ranch Inc. He enjoyed a wonderful working relationship with the Hammonds family for over 13 years and raised their children Karen, Bill and Mary on the ranch. In 1965 Don married Lillian (Sug) Freeman and moved into Fresno where he helped her raise her children Lisa and Jim. At this time, he changed careers and went into the Funeral Business. Don was a Funeral Director for over 41 years and eventually retired from Lisle Funeral Home and Boice Funeral Home. In 1982 he married Shirley Coopman at which time they moved out to Woodward Lake. Don was a longtime member of the North Fresno Rotary Club. In 1979 he was elected District Governor of Rotary International District 522. The Rotary Foundation named him a Paul Harris Fellow. Don was active in a variety of Business, Civic and Philanthropic organizations including The Fresno Convention and Visitors Bureau, Woodward Lakefront Board of Directors, Catholic Professional Business Club, Junior Achievement, Queen of the Valley Academy, Boys Town of Italy, The Dante Club and Past President of the Board of Directors at Fort Washington Country Club. Don took up golf later in life and enjoyed all the new relationships he formed at Fort Washington. Don also loved to travel. In addition to traveling throughout the United States, Mexico and Canada, he also visited several countries in Asia, Europe, Scandanavia and the Soviet Union. The highlight of his travels was his trip to the town of Foppiano in northern Italy where he met several of his relatives. Don was a lifelong Catholic and a parishioner at St. Anthony of Padua Church and Holy Spirit Church in Fresno.

Don passed away in Fresno, California on April 14, 2020.

Don was a man of high integrity; an ethical, responsible business professional. He was a dedicated community servant who lived up to his motto: “Let Service Light the Way”. Don was a loyal friend and a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather who will be forever in our hearts.

Don was preceded in death by his only brother, Leslie Francis Foppiano Jr, his wives Kathy Foppiano, Lillian (Sug) Foppiano, and Shirley Foppiano. He is survived by his daughters, Karen Branham and her husband Ron; Mary Ferns and her husband John; Lisa Marasco and her husband Ed; and Christine Coopman: sons, Bill Foppiano; Jim Freeman and his wife Julie; Bill Coopman and his wife Sabrina; Ted Coopman and his wife Stephanie; 12 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.

Private Family Services.

Please visit www.lislefuneralhome.com to leave condolences and memories for Don's family.