John T. Kopp
John Thomas Kopp, 72, of Ely, formerly of Mandan and Grand Forks, N.D., passed away on Friday, June 26, 2026, at Altru Hospital in Grand Forks, after a six-month battle with a rare type of liver cancer. A celebration of life will be held at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, July 21 at the Ely Folk School. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be sent to the family or Dahl Funeral Home in East Grand Forks, N.D., to assist with final expenses.
John was born in Mandan, N.D., on Dec. 5, 1953, to Thomas and Dorothy Martin Kopp. He graduated from Mandan High School in 1971. On Sept. 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.
In the spring of 2020, John moved to Ely, 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.
John is survived by his three beautiful and talented daughters and their spouses, Sarah (Charles) Heitkamp, Bethany (Richard McCaffery) Kopp and Lasha (Matt) Oss. He was blessed with seven adorable/handsome grandchildren, Farrah (Nathan) Lindgren (with baby boy on the way), Finn and Griffen Heitkamp, and Navy, Oakley, Lukas and Bailee Oss; He is also survived by his sweetheart, Becca Manlove of Ely; 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.
