Marie Copchunis

Copchunis, Marie A. (Helt) MADISON-Marie A. (Helt) Copchunis, age 91, of Madison, passed away on Monday, Dec. 8, 2014, at North Ridge Medical and Rehab Center in Manitowoc. She was born on June 26, 1923, in Waunakee, the daughter of Mathias and Margaret (Cline) Helt. Marie married John P. Copchunis of Wilkes-Barre, Pa., whom she met during World War II, on Feb. 18, 1947, at St. Bernard Catholic Church, and together they raised three daughters in Madison. Marie went to Union Free High School in Waunakee and was a student at MATC in Madison. She was an employee for the Deptment of Transportation in Madison from 1964 until 1996. Marie was an active member of DAVA and VFWA where she helped veterans at the VA Hospital. She was also a Girl Scout leader and member at Black Hawk Girl Scout Council for over 55 years. Marie volunteered at the Madison Area School District, was a driver for RSVP where she drove the elderly that needed rides, and did other additional volunteer work. She had many hobbies including postage stamp collecting, gardening, canning, rubber stamping, reading the Wisconsin State Journal from front to back and personally typing endless greeting cards and letters to family and friends. Marie is survived by her children, Dorothy (Paul) Gorman, Kathleen Copchunis, and Margaret (Rob) Bailey; six grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and her brother, Mathias (Diann) Helt. She was preceded in death by her husband, John Copchunis; parents; grandson, John A. Disch; sister, Catherine (Helt) Boehm, and infant brother, Joseph. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at ST. BERNARD CATHOLIC CHURCH, 2450 Atwood Ave., Madison, at 11 a.m., on Friday, Dec. 12, 2014, with Father Michael Radowicz presiding. Burial will be at Forest Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Dr., Madison, from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m., on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014, and again, at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the service on Friday. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Masses, Heart Association, Diabetic Association, or the Kidney Foundation. The family wishes to personally thank Dr. Gahl and the Heartland Hospice caregivers as well as the caregivers at North Ridge and the staff at Fresenius Dialysis Center in Manitowoc. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com. Gunderson East Funeral & Cremation Care 5203 Monona Dr. (608) 221-5420