Connie Keoppel

Connie Lou Clark was born in Cantril, Iowa and spent her formative years in Cedar Rapids. She attended Iowa State Teachers College (now Northern Iowa University) where she met her future husband, Keith Keoppel. They married in 1956 and following Keith’s tour in the Navy, returned to Iowa so that he could complete his degree. Subsequently, they lived in St. Louis and Chicago before moving to Sparta in 1969 with three young children in tow.

Connie joined the faculty of Sandyston-Walpack School District where she would teach elementary students for 25 years before retiring in 1995. During that time she also obtained her BA degree from William Paterson College, the first member of her family to receive a college degree.

Connie was very active in the Sparta Presbyterian Church and was a former member of Lake Mohawk Golf Club. In 2006, through her vision she and Keith established the Loving Arms, a home for crisis pregnancies as an outreach ministry of the Sparta Church. They served in that ministry until 2009. The couple were co-founders of the Living Waters Fellowship Church in Newton.

The Keoppels loved to travel and Connie blossomed as a water color artist. They were acknowledged as accomplished gardeners. Connie’s two passions in life were serving God through her church community and acting as care giver to her grand children.

Connie is survived by her loving husband, Keith, of 56 years. Three children: Brad who resides in Portland, OR; Jill with her companion Darius Ebner also of Portland; and Dan and his wife Donna and their children, Zak, Jordan, Spencer, Grace, Addie and Nate who reside in Montville, NJ. She is also survived by her two sisters Janice Clark and her husband Bob of St. Petersburg, FL and Jane Tortorice and husband John of Pittsburgh, PA; along with many nieces and nephews.

Visitors may call at Goebel Funeral Home of Sparta on Sunday, January 13, from 3:00-5:00 or 7:00-9:00. A memorial service will be held at the First Presbyterian Church of Sparta on Monday, January 14, at 10:30am. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to either, Project Self Sufficiency, 127 Mill Street, Newton, NJ, 07860 or House of Mercy Mission, 573 Springfield Avenue, Newark, NJ 07103.