Obituary: Louise Koplein

Louise Koplein

Louise Lillian Koplein, 86, died Sept. 25, 2006.

Requiem Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Francis de Sales Cathedral, First and Church streets. It will be preceded by the rosary, which will be said at 10 a.m. Visitations will be from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday at Gray's West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave.

She was born on Aug. 15, 1920, at Richland. She was orphaned at birth and raised by her aunt, Louise Ingram, on the family homestead. When she became school age, they moved to Baker City.

She attended St. Francis Academy. After graduation, she went to live with her sister, Laura, in Milwaukee, Wis. While working at a soda fountain shop, she met and later married the love of her life, Edwin Koplein, a Milwaukee native.

After World War II, they moved to Baker City where they raised four children. Edwin died on Aug. 10, 1985.

She was a special gift to her husband, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and a friend to all she met, family members said.

"She brought joy and love to all who knew her and was always the ultimate lady," they said.

Her faith was the cornerstone of her life. She was an active member of St. Francis de Sales Parish. Over the years she spent many joyful hours singing with the choir and working with the Altar Society. She will be missed.

Survivors include her son, Michael Koplein and his wife, Linda; daughters, Linda Tester, Karen Moore and her husband, Robert, and Amber Simonsen and her husband, Lon; grandsons, Jeffry Moore and Brent Simonsen; granddaughters, Beverly Stevens and Kristi Laney; and great-grandchildren, Bryanna, Caleb, Tyler and Sara.