John Kopp December 5, 1953 - June 26, 2026

John Thomas Kopp, 72, of Ely, MN (formerly of Mandan and Grand Forks, ND) passed away on June 26, 2026 at Altru Hospital in Grand Forks, after a 6-month battle with a rare type of liver cancer.

John was born in Mandan on December 5,1953 to Thomas and Dorothy (Martin) Kopp; and graduated from Mandan High School in 1971. On September 29, 1973, he married the love of his life, Vicki Ann Forness. Vicki passed away at the age of 53, on April 17, 2008, from breast cancer.

John earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from North Dakota State University and devoted nearly four decades to work in behavioral psychology. Over the course of his career, he served people and families through Grafton State Hospital/State School, Northeast Human Service Center, HIT, Anne Carlsen, private consulting work, and Poppy's Promise. His work reflected a steady belief that people deserve to be understood with patience, dignity, humor, and care.

John is survived by 3 beautiful daughters and their spouses - Sarah (Charles) Heitkamp, Bethany (Richard McCaffery) Kopp, and Lasha (Matt) Oss. He was also blessed with 7 adorable/handsome grandchildren - Farrah (Nathan) Lindgren (with baby boy on the way), Finn and Griffen Heitkamp; and Navy, Oakley, Lukas, and Bailee Oss, and his sweetheart Becca Manlove.

John is also survived by his sister Susan (Michael) Zimmerman and their daughters, Rebecca (Michael) Stutz and Elizabeth Schneider; sister-in law Lori (Jon) Watson and their daughters, Haley (Sean) Falconer and children and Shay Watson; and numerous cousins.

He was preceded in death by his wife Vicki, parents Tom and Dorothy Kopp, in-laws Ron and Shirley Forness, brother-in-law Greg Forness, and infant niece and nephew Julie and Ryan Schneider.

In the spring of 2020 John moved to Ely, MN and rented a cabin on Everett Lake. This became his favorite place to be. He loved The Boundary Waters and Ely and spent much of his time engaged with the community. He was a member of Ely's local writers' group and book club, served on the Friends of the Library Board, was an instructor and volunteer for the Ely Folk School, took water clarity readings on Fenske Lake and monitored loons on Everett Lake. His creative passions included writing and developing ways to teach parents to write with their children and for their children. John loved art and music, and had a great sense of humor. He deeply enjoyed photography, camping, hiking, and good food.

A Celebration of Life will be held in Ely on July 21, 4pm at the Ely Folk School. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be sent to the family or Dahl Funeral Home (East Grand Forks, MN) to assist with final expenses.