Waldemar Dmitro Stopkey, 89, passed away April 10, 2018. He was born April 6, 1929 in Podebrady, Czechoslovakia (30 miles from Prague in what is now the Czech Republic). He graduated from Neues Gymansium in Regensburg, Bavaria in 1947, and immigrated to the US that same year. He graduated in January of 1952 with a BS in Civil Engineering from Missouri School of Mines and Masters in Structural Engineering in 1958 from the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago.
His professional career began in 1952 at Proctor and Gamble, where he met his wife Lorraine, the love of his life, who was a nurse. He joined Union Carbide in 1963 and enjoyed making friends in Illinois, Texas, Louisiana, New Jersey and Michigan. In 1977, he returned to New Orleans and joined Walk, Haydel and Assoc where he retired as Senior VP of Administration in 1996. In 2002, he and Lorraine moved to Raleigh, NC to be closer to family.
His second love was the military, with a career beginning in the motor pool for the US Army in Regensberg, Germany. In 1952, he joined the US Army, and in 1956 received a direct commission into the Navy Reserves Civil Engineering Corp where he attained the rank of Commander before retiring in 1982.
Always involved wherever he lived, he loved New Orleans. He was a member and King of Prophets of Persia Krewe and Duke in the Krewe of Iris. Active in the Presbyterian USA church serving as elder and clerk of session for 10 years in Luling, LA. He was involved in Scottish Rite (33 degree) and York Rite, Masonic Organization, Shriners, National Sojourners, MOWW (Military Order of World Wars) and GAST.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Colonel Dmitro Celestine Stopkey and Marie Johanna Nikodem, and his wife, Lorraine Bielenberg Stopkey. He is remembered by his children and their spouses – Linda and John Allen of Raleigh NC, Stuart Stopkey of Phoenix, AZ and Douglas and Jennifer Stopkey of Richmond, VA and grandchildren – Caroline and David Allen and Sterling, Kelsey, Matthew and Alexander Stopkey.
Wally’s Celebration of Life will be held 4pm Friday, June 1st at North Raleigh Presbyterian Church, 11905 Strickland Road.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Wally’s memory to Shriners Hospitals for Children are appreciated.
Condolences may be sent at: www.brownwynne.com
