- Date Of Death: September 10, 2010
- State: Indiana
Donald Fred Kopis of Perua”decorated Korean War veteran, successful businessman, farmer, loving husband and father of five childrena”passed away September 10, 2010. Born November 19, 1930 in Chicago, Ill., the son of Frank J. and Marie M. (Herrmann) Kopis, Donald graduated in 1948 from Downers Grove (Ill.) High School. He attended Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, before serving in Korea with distinction in the U.S.
In the 1960s his career in health care management began at Penrose Hospital, Colorado Springs, proceeding to St. Joseph Hospital and St. Anne Home, Ft. Wayne. In 1969, Donald was appointed by Indiana Governor Edgar Whitcomb to the Indiana State Board of Registration and Education for Health Facility Administrators, receiving license number 4 in 1971. Having managed and owned extended care facilities until 1985, Donald chose to farm full-time until 1992, when he and Mildred moved to Peru. He owned the Sheep to Shawl Shop, worked as City Engineer for the City of Peru and was a freelance sports reporter for the Peru Tribune.
He was a high school football star; drill sergeant; pilot; dog breeder and trainer; horseman, cattleman and shepherd; civic participant; amateur historian; and Sunday school teacher.
