Julius B Koppala

Julius B. Koppala, 93, of Chisago City, MN, passed away Friday, August 4, 2017 at Isabelle’s House of Ecumen Parmly LifePointes in Chisago City. A Memorial service will be held Saturday, August 12, 2017 at Grace Lutheran Church in Hibbing at 1:00 p.m. with visitation beginning one hour prior. Pastor Tim Yearyean will officiate. Arrangements are with Range Funeral Home in Hibbing.

Julius was born in Bovey on December 10, 1923 to Julius and Senja (Ollila) Koppala. He graduated from Greenway High School in 1941. He worked for Oliver Mining Company and Pickand Mathers (Danube) until he was drafted into the Army in May 1943. After training, he was shipped overseas to England and Germany. In September 1944, he served in the European Theater of Operations where he belonged to the Signal Corp as a Cryptographic Specialist 805 (codework) until he discharged in April 1946.

Julius enrolled in Itasca Jr. College in 1947. He began photographic training at Enstrom Studio in 1948. After further training in Salt Lake City he returned to Enstrom Studio from 1950-1965. Julius married Doris Bemis from Cohasset in May 1949. They moved to Los Angeles in 1962 where he worked in photography for a year before joining the Postal Service. He transferred to Hibbing in 1966 where he continued as a letter carrier until his retirement in 1985 with 25 years of service.

He spent many years vacationing in Arizona and California. He lived in Hibbing until his wife, Doris, passed away in 2004. He moved to Chisago City and then, in 2007, he moved to Grand Rapids to be with his old high school sweetheart, Irene LeClair. In 2006 he traveled to Finland and Sweden to visit his cousins.

Julius was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Hibbing. He photographed all church activities, including two year books. He volunteered in building a new church in 2003-2004 where he took pictures of the construction from start to finish and stained and varnished all of the windows and woodwork.

He is survived by:

Son: Steven (Alyce) Koppala of Chisago City, MN

Grandchildren: Lisa (Chad) Monson of Lindstrom, MN
Julie (John) Bennett of Blaine, MN

Great Grandchildren: Jocelyn and Jayla Bennett

Loving Companion: Irene LeClair and her children
Mike (Brenda) Johnson of Grand Rapids, MN
Sandy Sampson of Grand Rapids

A nephew and two nieces

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Doris; brother, Francis; stepbrother, Reino Hendrickson; and great granddaughter, Ava Mae Monson.

Memorials are preferred to the Alzheimer’s Association.

The family would like to thank the staff of St. Croix Hospice and Parmly Isabelle’s House for their love and support.

Funeral Service

August 12, 2017 at 1:00PM
4010 9th Avenue West Hibbing, MN 55746

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