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Ronald G. Koppenhaver, 67, passed away on Jan. 30, 2012 surrounded by his family after a long fight against myelofibrosis and leukemia, supported by a devoted community of those he touched during his life.
Born in Newton on July 8, 1944, Ron spent most of his youth—1947-1958—in Bragado, Argentina, as part of a Mennonite missionary family, the “Koppies”: father John, mother Ruth, and brothers John, Denny, and Terry. His English was even a bit rusty when the family returned to hometown Hesston, Kan., for school when he was 14. Ron graduated from Hesston Academy in 1962 and went on to Goshen College in Indiana, where he graduated with a degree in physical education in 1967. Through his school years, he was widely respected, admired, and even a bit feared for his athletic prowess in many sports, trying out for the Olympic soccer team while he was in college.
Ron married high school sweetheart, Rachel Osborne, Aug. 21, 1965, and they settled in Harrisonburg, Va. He taught and coached at Eastern Mennonite High School in Harrisonburg 1966-79, and was the head soccer coach at Eastern Mennonite College 1967-69. Ron and Rachel directed Mennonite camp Highland Retreat for eight of the summers they were in the area. He received his master’s degree from James Madison University during that time. Sons, Chris and Patrick, were born in 1971 and 1973, and daughter, Megan, in 1979, two months after the family moved to Hesston. Ron taught at Hesston College 1979-86, where he coached basketball and soccer. He started teaching Spanish at El Dorado High School in 1986, where he remained until he retired. After two years with the tennis team at EHS, he found his niche as coach of the cross country team and the distance runners in track and as assistant coach of the basketball team.
Ron’s coaching legacy includes too many league, regional, and state championships to list, and a huge community of athletes fondly remembers him as the dedicated, demanding, loving, grumpy, playful man who taught them how to be successful.
In his later years, Ron enjoyed trips to Argentina and Mexico, where family and friends enjoyed seeing him display a more gregarious personality than his typically reserved one. He was a lifelong fan of the St. Louis Cardinals, Dallas Cowboys, and Boca Juniors, and could almost always be found watching sports in his free time with son, Pat, by his side.
Ron was preceded in death by parents, John and Ruth, and brothers, Terry and Denny. He is survived by wife Rachel; children, Chris, Patrick and Megan; granddaughter, Avery; and new daughter-in-law, Kristi.
A memorial college scholarship will be created in Ron’s name for graduating seniors of El Dorado High School, one male and one female annually. Contributions are welcome in lieu of flowers, sent to Carlson Funeral home, 200 S. Star. Leave a condolence for the family at www.carlsoncolonial.com.
A service celebrating his life will be held 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 26, at Eastminster Presbyterian Church, 1958 N. Webb Rd. in Wichita.
Ronald G. Koppenhaver, 67, passed away on Jan. 30, 2012 surrounded by his family after a long fight against myelofibrosis and leukemia, supported by a devoted community of those he touched during his life.
Born in Newton on July 8, 1944, Ron spent most of his youth—1947-1958—in Bragado, Argentina, as part of a Mennonite missionary family, the “Koppies”: father John, mother Ruth, and brothers John, Denny, and Terry. His English was even a bit rusty when the family returned to hometown Hesston, Kan., for school when he was 14. Ron graduated from Hesston Academy in 1962 and went on to Goshen College in Indiana, where he graduated with a degree in physical education in 1967. Through his school years, he was widely respected, admired, and even a bit feared for his athletic prowess in many sports, trying out for the Olympic soccer team while he was in college.
Ron married high school sweetheart, Rachel Osborne, Aug. 21, 1965, and they settled in Harrisonburg, Va. He taught and coached at Eastern Mennonite High School in Harrisonburg 1966-79, and was the head soccer coach at Eastern Mennonite College 1967-69. Ron and Rachel directed Mennonite camp Highland Retreat for eight of the summers they were in the area. He received his master’s degree from James Madison University during that time. Sons, Chris and Patrick, were born in 1971 and 1973, and daughter, Megan, in 1979, two months after the family moved to Hesston. Ron taught at Hesston College 1979-86, where he coached basketball and soccer. He started teaching Spanish at El Dorado High School in 1986, where he remained until he retired. After two years with the tennis team at EHS, he found his niche as coach of the cross country team and the distance runners in track and as assistant coach of the basketball team.
Ron’s coaching legacy includes too many league, regional, and state championships to list, and a huge community of athletes fondly remembers him as the dedicated, demanding, loving, grumpy, playful man who taught them how to be successful.
In his later years, Ron enjoyed trips to Argentina and Mexico, where family and friends enjoyed seeing him display a more gregarious personality than his typically reserved one. He was a lifelong fan of the St. Louis Cardinals, Dallas Cowboys, and Boca Juniors, and could almost always be found watching sports in his free time with son, Pat, by his side.
Ron was preceded in death by parents, John and Ruth, and brothers, Terry and Denny. He is survived by wife Rachel; children, Chris, Patrick and Megan; granddaughter, Avery; and new daughter-in-law, Kristi.
A memorial college scholarship will be created in Ron’s name for graduating seniors of El Dorado High School, one male and one female annually. Contributions are welcome in lieu of flowers, sent to Carlson Funeral home, 200 S. Star. Leave a condolence for the family at www.carlsoncolonial.com.
A service celebrating his life will be held 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 26, at Eastminster Presbyterian Church, 1958 N. Webb Rd. in Wichita.
