Joe Lee Coppedge Sr., 88, of Lakewood, CO died peacefully at his home on August 14, 2017.
Joe was born June 29, 1929, in Wood River, IL to Minnie and Clifford Coppedge.
He graduated from Northern Illinois University with a degree in mechanical engineering.
Joe then served as Sargent, First Class for the U.S. Army as a tank commander for the
50th anti aircraft self propelled automatic weapons battalion in Korea. When he returned from service he took a job with Dow Chemical Company in Colorado, where he fell in love with the Rocky Mountains. Staying in Colorado he also worked for Rocky Flats, IBM, Storage Tech, Martin Marietta and Oakley Industries, collecting many friends along the way.
He married Louise Meisner Waneka in October 1973 in Mazatlan, Mexico. After their marriage they lived in Boulder County on their “JLC Ranch”, and later bought the Allen’s Park Lodge which they owned and operated until 1980. They lived at Big Elk Meadows for 16 years, then moved to Loveland where Louise passed in September 2002. Joe moved to Lakewood in 2013.
Joe was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, fishing and white water rafting. He loved classic cars. He also loved collecting, dealing and trading in guns, knives and antiques. He was a member of the VFW.
Mr. Coppedge is survived by sister, Jewel Norton of Selma, Alabama; daughters, Jayne Danko (Rob) of Thornton, CO Chari Ihle (Ray) of Lafayette, CO Cindy Camanisch of Rolla, MO; and sons, Kenneth Waneka of Rolla and Scott Waneka (Kerri Sue) of Lakewood;17 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren.
Joe is preceded in death by his wife, Louise Coppedge; son, Joe Coppedge Jr.; son-in-law, Joe Camenisch; and brother-in-law, Marian John Norton.
Funeral service will be held 1:00 on Monday, August 21, 2017 at Adamson Chapel in Greeley. There will be a Gravesite Service with military honors held at 3:00 at Lakeview Cemetery in Windsor.