Geraldine “Deanie” L. Kophamer, 89, of Morrison, IL, died Thursday, February 23, 2023, at Homestead of Morrison.
Geri was born on March 17, 1933, in Morrison, to Rennie J. and Lodina (Medema) Buikema. She was educated in the rural Whiteside County grade schools and was a 1951 graduate of Morrison High School. She was first married to Bernard Martens; he died August 31, 1967. She later married James W. Kophamer on June 15, 1991, in Sterling, IL. Geri was first employed by Volckman’s Furniture Factory in Morrison and later for General Electric in Morrison, until retiring in 1991. She was a current member of St. Johns Lutheran Church in Clinton, IA , and a former member of Ebenezer Reformed Church in Morrison. Geri enjoyed bowling and traveling with her family and friends.
Survivors include her husband, Jim; stepdaughters, Kathryn (Dan) Hubbard of Lone Tree, CO, Joan (Tom) Wear of Melbourne, FL, and Amy (Joe) Robbins of Morrison; stepson, Rev. Mark (Sharon) Kophamer of Briston, TN; step-daughter-in-law, Cathy Kophamer of Morrison; 17 step-grandchildren; 34 step-great-grandchildren; brother, Ron Buikema of Morrison.
She was preceded in death by her parents; first husband, Bernard; stepson, Timothy Kophamer; sister, Marjorie VenHuizen; nephew, Rick VenHuizen.
Her Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., on Saturday, March 4, 2023, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Clinton, IA, with Rev. Daniel Pool, Pastor at St. John’s Lutheran Church, officiating.
A Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., on Friday, March 3, 2023, at the Morrison Chapel of the Bosma-Renkes Funeral Home.
Interment will be at Fulton Township Cemetery in Fulton, IL.
A memorial has been established to St. John’s Lutheran Church, Ebenezer Reformed Church, and Community Hospice.