John R. Stopa

John R. Stopa, age 91 of Center Line, died Saturday, September 21, 2013 at the Park Place Heritage Village in Warren. He was born on December 27, 1921 in Detroit, son of the late Casimer and Bernice (nee: Kulpa) Stopa. John was employed as an Engineer in the automotive industry where he extended many years of dedicated service. Although he exuded his utmost while on the clock, it was in the off-the-clock hours that John shared many of his greatest passions. Aside from contributing 50 years to St. Clement Catholic Church as a faithful parishioner, John was known to be quite good with his hands.He spent his days enjoying a number of favorite pastimes of which two of the most prevalent included building model airplanes and fishing. Both, in their own right, possessed a sense of his handiwork talents,...one through the intricacies of piecing together delicate parts, and the other through his skills with the rod & reel. Another of his favorite activities was his love of photography. Known to his friends as a master photographer, John took great pleasure in capturing and developing many special moments & memories through the window of his lens and his natural abilities with the camera. But of all the things that provided him great joy in life, nothing could compare to the love he possessed for his wife, Virginia. They would go on to share 65 years together until Virginia's passing in April 2012. With sad hearts, we say good-bye to John,...but we know it's with pure joy that he is, now, reunited with his beloved in Heaven.He was a loving husband of the late Virginia. Predeceased by his dear siblings, Stanley, Mary and Leo. Dearest uncle of many nieces and nephews. John will be deeply missed by all his friends and family, including his life-long friend, Pete Vannini. Visitation for John will be held on Thursday, September 26th from 3-9pm, with a 6:30pm Rosary Service, at the D.S. Temrowski & Sons Funeral Home, 30009 Hoover Road at Common (12 1/2 Mile Road) in Warren. John will lie in state Friday, 9:30am at St. Mary, Our Lady Queen of Families Catholic Church, St. Clement Campus (8155 Ritter Avenue in Center Line), until the time of his Mass at 10am. Please share memories of John at his memory book.