Obituary of Paul Arthur Kopatz

Paul Arthur Kopatz May 26, 1961 to June 15, 2020 “A Good Man” As we all learn of the passing of Paul Arthur Kopatz, I’m sure we are all sharing our stories, and remembering his wit as we try to deal with our pain. However, I will tell you his story, about his life and who he was. I wanted to write something different about Paul and as I thought about how to describe him, I kept coming up with the description of A Good Man. But Paul was so much more. A one of a kind Good Man. Paul Arthur Kopatz was born May 26, 1961, in Springfield, Illinois. He was the only child of Harry Paul Kopatz and Iva Lucille Kopatz (Homer). Paul grew up in the small town of Rochester, Illinois, where he attended school and was a member of the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, that was until school and church were not on a teenager’s agenda! Somewhere during this time, in the late 70’s, he and his best friend, Jimmy Hurley, did all the things teenagers do, including getting into loads of trouble…but during this time also, he developed a uniqueness that we, as his friends and family, knew was THE trademark of Paul’s personality. His wit. His comical wit. Oh, we all know his one liners that would make us laugh and what was worse, they were TRUE! He had that wit and the ability to talk your ear off. He was a Good Man. In 1984, Paul pursued a dream of being an OTR truck driver and worked for Silvey Refrigerated Carriers in Council Bluffs, Iowa, from 1985 to 1990. In 1986, he married Jeri Saltzman and together they welcomed their only child, a son, Cale Paul Kopatz, in 1988. At the same time, he gained his stepdaughter, Savannah Noel Saltzman as he affectionately called “his little girl” even when she became an adult. Being the man he was, he loved Savannah as his own child. In 1990, the family moved to Oklahoma where we all called home. Cale and Savannah had the best father any child could wish for, showering them with attention and teaching them life’s wisdom that only Paul could do. I know both Cale and Savannah will hold on to their memories of Paul’s total devotion to them and I hope they take those lessons of life that Paul taught them and pass on to his grandchildren. They were truly blessed. Yes, He was a Good Man. Amongst many things, Paul and Cale shared a love of motorcycles with some of their best memories being at Heartland Park Raceway in Topeka, KS. Cale, the speedster, and Paul, the Old Man, but the memories they both shared were priceless. A special bond only a father and son would know, yet they were also best friends. And with Savannah, the memories she will hold are a testament to his love for her. She may have tried to get away with some of her teenage antics, but as she knows, Paul was always a step ahead of her. It was way too comical! Later through the years, he loved spending time with his grandkids, watching them grow up. Wednesday nights were usually a family night at Cale’s house where he spent time with them also. He was a Good Man. Anyone who met Paul instantly loved him. His generosity, thoughtfulness, and ability to make you laugh were undeniable. Paul would go out of his way to show you he cared. His friends and family always came first. He was the definition of a caring, gentle, loving soul that included a humor that only Paul could spit out and get away with. It was the little things we all knew that he did that will leave us with an undeniable aching sadness that will linger within us throughout our lives. I think we all can agree none of us will cross paths with a character such as Paul again in our lifetime. He truly was one of a kind. All we have left are our memories that we will cherish forever and a thankfulness that he was part of our lives. He was a Good Man. Paul is preceeded in death by his parents, Harry and Iva Kopatz, and his beloved companion dog, Buddy. He is survived by his son, Cale Paul Kopatz, daughter in law, Megan Kopatz, stepdaughter Savannah Noel Saltzman Rife, grandchildren, Cason Thomas Kopatz, Addison Marie Bevard, Olivia Joy Smith, and Zyon Michael Rife, brothers ,Jerry Cole, John Cole, and sister, Nancy Werve, and his two constant canine companions, Dollar and Hope. Yes, we all lost A Good Man. An irreplaceable man in our hearts and souls. A character that only comes along once in our lifetime filled with love, wisdom, respect, and loads of humor. Godspeed, Paul. I hope you knew how much you were loved by so many of us and the impact you made on all our lives. Your final resting place on turn 3 at Heartland Raceway is awaiting your arrival soon. You were a Good Man.