Kenneth Ewald Koppelman

Kenneth Ewald ("Ken") Koppelman was born on September 18, 1941, the son of Ewald F. and Renata M. (Wacha) Koppelman in his grandparents' home in rural Wyndmere, North Dakota.  He was raised on the family farm in rural Lidgerwood, North Dakota.

He attended elementary school in a one-room country school before attending Lidgerwood High School, where he graduated in 1959.  During his school years, he was active in music and many other activities and played football.  He was perhaps best known for playing guitar and singing an Elvis Presley impersonation.

Ken attended Valley City State Teachers College (now Valley City State University) in Valley City, North Dakota, where he majored in music education and art.  During his years attending there, he continued his musical interests and played in a dance band, along with his brother, Fred, called The Feather Merchants.  He student taught in Kensal, North Dakota, before graduating in 1963.

It was during his college years in Valley City that he met his wife, Janet ("Jan") Tjernlund, also a music major.  They were married on September 1, 1962, in Kulm, North Dakota.

After graduating college, the couple accepted teaching positions in Walhalla, North Dakota and later taught in Elk Mound, Wisconsin, before moving near his childhood home, to Wyndmere, North Dakota, where he worked in the insurance business with his father,  and where Jan taught in the local school.  He later became associated with New York Life insurance Company.  While living in Wisconsin, their first child, Jill, was born.

In 1968, the couple moved to Fargo, North Dakota, where Jan taught and Ken began working in pharmaceutical sales, initially with Schering and later with various other pharmaceutical companies and in other sales positions.  Their son, Matthew, was born during their years in Fargo.

Ken accepted a position with Chrysler's Marine division and, after six months, was the top salesman in the nation.  In 1976, he accepted a promotion and transfer with the company to the Houston, Texas, area, where the family has made their home since.

He re-entered the pharmaceutical sales field, working with Mead Johnson and other pharmaceutical firms before working in the medical supply field and starting his own business, Koppelman Medical.

Ken enjoyed Bible studies, golf, and other activities.  He loved his family deeply and was a friend of many.  He and Jan were active in the churches they attended in the communities where they lived, over the years, and he served as an elder.  Often, those activities included music. In his later years, Ken returned to his interest in art, producing many beautiful paintings which he enjoyed giving to family and friends.

In 2021, the couple sold their home and moved into The Conservatory in The Woodlands, Texas.

Ken went home to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on October 31, 2022.

He is survived by his loving wife, Jan; daughter Jill and son-in-law Peter Massa, The Woodlands, TX, son Matthew and daughter-in-law Stephanie Koppelman, Spring, TX; grandsons John Massa, The Woodlands, TX, Michael Massa, Austin, TX, and Jake Koppelman Spring, TX; granddaughter Julia Koppelman, Spring, TX; brothers Fred (Nancy) Koppelman, Eden Prairie, MN, and Kim (Torey) Koppelman, West Fargo, ND, as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.  He was preceded in death by his father, Ewald Koppelman, and his mother, Renata Koppelman.