Timothy K. Loper, PhD, was born December 4, 1975 to Robin Loper and Joni Bontrager at St. Catherine’s Hospital in Garden City, Kansas. He passed away unexpectedly of health complications on April 13, 2019 at his home in Pleasant Valley, Missouri.
Tim graduated from Washburn University in 1998 with a Bachelor of Science, then earned a Master’s of Science Education from University of Kansas in 2004 and finally achieved a PhD in Education Curriculum in 2010 from Capella University. He loved to teach high school physics, play drums, and cook. Tim was contracted to write a physics textbook for Veritas Press and this was the ultimate career goal for him. He began working for Faith Christian Academy in 2016 and loved the community of teachers, staff and families. He previously taught at Immaculata High School in Leavenworth Kansas for 11 years where he also coached the Scholar Bowl team, Golf team, and coordinated the school’s successful accreditation process.
Tim and Melissa married in 2008 and blended their families together which includes Tim’s children Zachary and Zoe Loper, and Melissa’s son Daniel Young, Jr. While Tim struggled with physical pain, he would find the energy to cook with his daughter and play Pokémon cards with his son.
Tim attended Northside Christian Church for the past 12 years where he was a drummer in the worship band, taught an adult Sunday School class, and was passionate about sharing God’s Word. He had a heart of giving, blessing people with whatever he had to offer at the time.
Tim was preceded in death by his grandparents, Marion Joyce Loper; and Delmas and Mary Windholz; stepsister Tisha Morgan. He is survived by Joni and Jerry Bontrager (mother and stepfather) of Lawrence, Kansas; Robin and Mary Jo Loper (father and stepmother) of Lenexa, Kansas; his wife Melissa (Cram) Loper of Pleasant Valley, Missouri; his children Zachary and Zoe Loper of Girard, Kansas; stepson Daniel Young, Jr of Pleasant Valley, Missouri; siblings Shelby (Warren Jr.) Garlock of Baldwin City, Kansas and Adam Loper of Lawrence, Kansas; stepsiblings Nicole (Bill) Strickland, Brook (James) Carranza, Raquel Chavez, Brooke Morgan, and Ryan (Cortney) Morgan; grandfather Robert Loper of Garden City, Kansas; as well as many beloved nieces, nephews, and in-laws.
