Peter James Lopata

Peter was the beloved husband of Zereka Bell-Lopata and devoted father of Kaylee and Gavin Lopata. He was a loving stepfather to Dylan, Richard, and Bianca, and the son of Richard and Debbie Lopata and Monika Direnna (Martin). He is survived by his brothers, Richard Lopata II, Eric Lopata, and Damon Mercer, his sister, Ashley Lopata, extended family, and many dear friends and colleagues.

Raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Kansas City, Missouri, Peter graduated from Atchison High School and began a life dedicated to service. From 2001 to 2015, he served in the U.S. Army, beginning with the Army Reserves, 418th Civil Affairs, and later serving as a military police officer at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

In March 2003, Peter deployed to Iraq, where he served until March 2004. He answered the call to serve with courage, dedication, and an unwavering sense of duty. His family is immensely proud of his bravery and sacrifice, and his service to our country will always be honored and remembered.

Peter continued his commitment to serving others through a career in law enforcement. He attended the Western Missouri Regional Police Academy, the Department of the Army Police Academy, and the Veterans Affairs Police Academy. Throughout his career, he served communities throughout Missouri and Kansas, including Claycomo, Randolph, Kearney, Platte Woods, and Leavenworth, as well as the Thomas H. Corey VA Medical Center. In recent years, he served as a Special Agent with Florida’s Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco. Peter took great pride in his work and in helping others.

Beyond the uniform, Peter was known for his unmistakable smile, contagious laugh, quick wit, sarcasm, and goofy sense of humor. He had a way of making people laugh and could fill a room with his personality.

Peter loved spending time with his family and friends, playing games with his children, watching comedy, going to the beach, attending concerts, and enjoying cookouts. He was a passionate car enthusiast and enjoyed exploring real estate with Zereka. He loved learning new things and sharing what he knew with others.

A devoted sports fan, Peter proudly supported the Pittsburgh Pirates, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Kansas Jayhawks, and enjoyed fantasy football and KU basketball and football. He also loved gaming, particularly Red Dead Redemption, GTA 5, Call of Duty, and Police Simulator. He enjoyed alternative rock, Family Guy, Mexican food, seafood, and vanilla ice cream.

Peter will be remembered for his humor, his enormous personality, his love of family, and his dedication to serving others. He was a husband, father, stepfather, son, brother, friend, comedian, gamer, sports fan, car enthusiast, and beach lover.

Above all, Peter loved his family. His laughter, stories, and the memories he created with those around him will live on in the hearts of everyone who knew and loved him. His presence will be deeply missed, but his memory will never be forgotten.

A Funeral Service will be held at Palm Springs Seventh Day Adventist Church, 4424 S. Military Trail, Lake Worth Beach, Florida 33463, on October 9, 2026, from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm.

Burial will take place at South Florida National Cemetery, 6501 FL-7, Wellington, FL 33449, on October 9, 2026, at 1:00 pm.