9/18/2008
LeRoy Sopher, 87, of Oskaloosa, died Thursday morning, September 18, 2008, at the
Oskaloosa Care Center in Oskaloosa.
He was born September 20, 1920 in Mahaska County,
Iowa, the son of Eston Earl and Edith Elizabeth Raines Sopher. He graduated from
the Knoxville High School with the class of 1938.
On August 24, 1940, LeRoy was
united in marriage to Effie J. Slagter at Lancaster, Missouri. He served in the
United States Navy during World War II, and was the ship’s tailor on the U.S.S.
Kenmore. Early in his adult life, LeRoy operated a Texaco service station in Oskaloosa,
and then was a heavy equipment operator for the old Angus Coal Company near Oskaloosa.
Later, he was a farm equipment parts manager, first at Van Gorp Implement, and then
Gary Rogers John Deere Company, and retired in 1983. LeRoy is remembered by local
farmers as willing to get parts for their farm equipment, whether or not the dealership
was open. He enjoyed camping and doing crossword puzzles, and tinkered with woodworking.
For many years, he attended Central Reformed Church in Oskaloosa, and was a member
of the Harry L. Anderson Post 34 of the American Legion.
His family includes his
wife, Effie Sopher of Oskaloosa; a son and his wife: Wayne and Joyce Sopher of Oskaloosa;
a daughter and her husband, Beverly and Jim Belzer of Prairie City; six grandchildren:
Cheri (Duane) Helmick, Marla (Scott) Williams, Steve (Melanie) Sopher, Julie Vande
Lune, Chris (Lisa) Belzer, and Cindi (Dave) Dhabalt; 15 great grandchildren; and
4 great great grandchildren.
Also surviving is a sister: Elaine Campbell of Des
Moines, a step sister: Betty Amber of Oskaloosa; and many nieces and nephews. LeRoy
was preceded in death by his parents; and a brother: Gene Sopher.
Funeral services
for Roy Sopher will be held Monday, September 22, 2008, at 10:30 a.m. in the Central Reformed Church in Oskaloosa with the Reverend Don DeGlopper officiating. Burial
will be in the Forest Cemetery in Oskaloosa, with graveside military rites given
by members of the Oskaloosa D.A.V., V.F.W., and American Legion.
There will be a
Family Prayer Service Monday at 10:15 a.m. in the fellowship hall of the church.
Visitation will begin Sunday after 10 a.m., at the Bates Funeral Chapel in Oskaloosa,
and the family will be at the funeral chapel on Sunday from 2 – 4 p.m. to greet
friends and relatives. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.