Donald E. Hopke
June 17, 1929 - March 29, 2015
Obituary
Hopke, Donald E.
MADISON-Donald E. Hopke, age 85, of Madison, passed away on Sunday, March 29, 2015, following a lengthy illness. He was born on June 17, 1929, in Freeport, Ill., the son of Ellsworth and Melba (Witt) Hopke. Don proudly served in the U.S. Army National Guard, having served during the Korean Conflict. He was united in marriage to Donna Coyier on Jan. 27, 1951, in Madison. Don attended the UW-Madison, pursuing journalism. He worked for WMTV for 29 years, retiring in 1984. Don volunteered for many years in the Madison area. He enjoyed traveling, genealogy, gardening, hunting and fishing and was an avid Civil War enthusiast. Don is survived by his wife of 64 years, Donna; sons, Steve (Catherine) Hopke and Rick (Gail) Hopke; daughter, Debra (Robert Nackman) Hopke; four grandchildren, Heather Hopke, Bryan (Amanda) Hopke, Michael (Annie) Hopke and Ann Hopke; and two great-grandchildren, Irys and Charlotte Hopke. He was preceded in death by his parents; and stepmother, Evelyn Hopke. Funeral services will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, at 2 p.m., on Monday, April 6, 2015, with the Rev. Ronald Dobie presiding. Burial will follow at Highland Memory Gardens with military honors being conducted. A visitation will be held at the funeral home from noon until the time of the service on Monday. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the family for a fund to be established. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.
Gunderson East
Funeral & Cremation Care
5203 Monona Drive
(608)221-5420
Events
Visitation
Mon Apr 6, 2015 @ 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM CDT
Gunderson Funeral and Cremation Care - Madison • 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, WI 53716
Service
Mon Apr 6, 2015 @ 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM CDT
Gunderson Funeral and Cremation Care - Madison • 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, WI 53716
Photos
No photos of Donald have been shared yet.
Memories
MN
Mark Nolen
Other •
Don was a good friend and a wonderful, interesting and delightful person. Donna I hope this note finds you and your family at peace with Don's passing. My best to you always.
Don and I spent many hours chasing down the family lineage of the COYIER and NOLEN clans with innumerable side trips down paths of the unknown. Don would absolutely light up when he would call me and say ... "you better stop by I have something for you." And that usually meant I would be at his door a few hours later. Just couldn't wait and the information was always "the connection" we were looking for. Of course I tried to out do him with my research but never could. Great memories Don, miss you pal.
Mark Nolen
LH
Linda Holmes
Other •
We just got back into town and saw that Don had passed. So sorry to have missed his service and seeing all of you. He was a sweet guy and will be dearly missed. Sympathy to all your family. It's never easy. So glad we got to serve you all these years. Thank you.
Fondly, Tom and Linda Holmes.
MM
Mark Metry
Other •
Thanks to your family for sharing him and all the good experiences we had as scouts with troop 9. Those are memories to last a lifetime. Now he is at rest with my mother,Marie.