Edward L. Kopchak, Jr.

Edward L. Kopchak, Jr., of the Mount Carmel area passed away suddenly on Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at Geisinger-Shamokin Area Community Hospital. Ed was known to his friends with love and affection as “Kuppy”.

He was born at the former Shamokin Hospital on September 11, 1960. He was the son of the late Edward Kopchak, Sr. and Rita (Dobson) Kopchak.

Surviving are his wife, Susan (Clark) and daughter, Caitlin both of Reading; son, Ethan of Baltimore, MD; sister, Deborah (Kopchak) Donahue of the Catawissa area. He is also survived by an uncle Ralph Dobson of Syracuse, NY; an aunt, Barbara (Dobson) Benjock in North Carolina; and numerous cousins.

As a child, Kuppy grew up on East 4th Street, traversing the streets and its corners learning social and life skills with friends as they played wiffle ball, tag football and street hockey. After, during and before all the aforementioned activities, he would gather with his faithful friends and East End Associates at the hub of local commerce, Winkey's Store, later known to all as Twigger's.

He attended McKinley Grade School, as he interacted with more of his peers from around town. He earned a much desired title, the Captain of the School's Boy Corp, who with their many duties, also acted as crossing guards for students.  During this time, he was involved in organized athletics, where he excelled as a catcher for the K of C Little League Baseball Team and was a stellar Lineman for the Mount Carmel Jets Midget football program.

He went on to high school, where he played football for the Mount Carmel Red Tornadoes. He then pursued post-secondary education, having graduated in 1984 from Mansfield State College where he was a member of the TKE Fraternity. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Urban and Regional Planning.

After graduation, he worked in the Northumberland County Planning Office and then for an abatement company in Reading. Later in life, he obtained his Commercial Driver’s License, driving medical supplies and US mail.

Kuppy was a true "Deadhead" attending his first show in 1979 and his last show in 2023, with his lifelong true friend, Fabian Schoffler. Until his passing, he followed local Deadhead musicians and vocalists playing for the band, Unbroken Chain.  As a consummate DeadHead, if asked or quizzed, he could quote verse, lyric and song, as well as sets from concerts old and recent and was a wealth of information and knowledge on all things from the land of the Grateful Dead.

Although the band was his true passion, he was known to frequent the Steampipers Hunting Camp, where he was welcomed as a fellow hunter and sportsman. He was also welcomed by the multi-state Soupie Fest Group for his expertise in cured meat preparation.

Ed lived a colorful life and to say the music flowed through his veins would not be an understatement. He not only listened to the music; he lived the music and to him, it was not only a way of life, it was a religious experience. We all should be so lucky….

Many thanks, for all the help and assistance, from dear friends Fabian Schoffler and Greg Sacavage.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, March 31, 2023 at 12:00 noon with the Very Rev. Francis J. Karwacki officiating at the Joseph J. Stutz, Inc. Funeral Home, 40 South Market Street, Mount Carmel, Joseph J. Stutz, III Supervisor. A visitation with his family will be held on Friday morning from 10:00 am until 12:00 noon at the funeral home where a life of good memories will be recalled and shared. Interment will be held at a later date in All Saints Cemetery, Bear Gap, Ralpho Township. To offer a condolence to Kuppy’s family, please visit the Tribute Wall tab above.