- Date Of Birth: February 17, 1964
- Date Of Death: November 30, 2019
- Spouse: Marcie Murray
- Resting Place: Anchorage
- City: Chanute
- State: Kansas
John Andrew Koop, Jr., “Drew”, age 55, passed away at his home in Anchorage, in the early morning hours of Saturday, November 30, 2019, with loved ones gathered around him. Drew had waged a courageous and grueling fight against aggressive cancer for 2 years, with the help and support of his wife, daughter, other family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, and church community, as well as the Anchorage medical community. His loved ones wish to thank all those many medical individuals who cared for Drew, especially Dr. Jeanne Anderson and her staff at Katmai Oncology Group.
Drew was born February 17, 1964, in Chanute, Kansas, to Janet and John Andrew Koop, Sr. His family moved back to Minnesota when Drew started kindergarten, where he was raised and finished school in Rochester, graduating from John Marshall High School in 1982. He completed his studies at the University of Minnesota and Winona State University, graduating with a B.S. in 1991. He became a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) in 1996 and moved to Muncie, Indiana to work At Ball Memorial Hospital, where he met his future wife. Drew married Marcie Murray on October 3, 1998, and the couple moved to Alaska in 2002, where Drew took a position as a COTA at Alaska Regional Hospital until 2004 when he went to work for the State of Alaska where he remained an active employee until his death. The couple’s daughter, Maria, was born in Anchorage on December 4, 2004.
The family is an active member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. Drew enjoyed spending time with his family, whatever of the many activities they were doing. He will be remembered by all for his unique sense of humor, and as an excellent example of a loving and devoted husband, father, son, brother, friend, neighbor, fellow parishioner, and co-worker.
Drew is survived by his wife, Marcie Murray Koop, his daughter Maria Mychele Koop, his mother Janet L. Koop of Rochester, MN, sister Beth (Dan) Faflak of Henderson, NV, sister Amy (Paul) Wallin of Arden Hills, MN, brother David Koop of Brooklyn Park, MN, father-in-law Darrell L. Murray of Palmer, Ak, several nieces and nephews, and many aunts and cousins. He is preceded in death by his father, John Andrew Koop, Sr., and his mother-in-law, Beatrice M. Murray.
