David A. Kopplin
May 28, 1932 – Sep. 1, 2017
David Kopplin recognized that all of us need a hand along the way. His life’s work was helping others rise above their challenges, meet their aspirations, and be their best selves. He was a fixer at heart, curious about how things and people work, inventive when mending was required, and wholly present when the answer was simply to listen and understand without judgment. As those who knew and loved David grieved over his death on Friday, September 1, 2017, he would ask us to heed the words of poet Merrit Malloy: “When you need me, put your arms around anyone and give them what you need to give me.
“Giving was second nature to David. He was never afraid to say, “I love you.” Other favorite words were “How can I help?” Whether he was training graduate students, counseling couples in marriage, ministering to the ill, patiently helping his children with homework, playing LEGO with his grandchildren, serving as a deacon at his church or overseeing the financial health of the Lake Shore Baptist Children’s Center, he gave generously of his time, wisdom and heart.
David’s driving interest in what made people tick led him to be a lifelong student, traveling the halls of academia and countries of the world with enthusiasm. He earned his undergraduate degree from Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin, a masters degree from Lutheran Theological Seminary in Chicago, a masters and PhD from Michigan State University, and an MPH from the University of Michigan.
With those degrees, he served as a hospital chaplain and mission developer for the Westside Medical District in Chicago, and as a professor at Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia and the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. He finished his teaching career in 2003 at Baylor University, where he taught for 28 years in the Department of Psychology, pouring his energy into the development of graduate students in the PsyD program, many of whom became like family. In 2009, Baylor honored David with the Herbert H. Reynolds Award for Exemplary Service. Until recently he was a part-time psychologist at Injury 1 Treatment Center.
He traveled to 50 U.S. states and most Canadian provinces, numerous national parks, and Germany, Tanzania and Australia to visit his kids when they lived abroad. He participated in the Baylor in London program, traveled to Ireland, Nova Scotia, Scandinavia, British Columbia and, most recently, Utah. He loved to garden, to tinker in his workshop repairing things and inventing clever contraptions, and to root for the Green Bay Packers and Baylor Lady Bears basketball team.
But above all else, David’s greatest joys in life were his wife, Faith (Twietmeyer) Kopplin, whom he married in Chicago on May 27, 1961, his three children and their spouses, Kristin Rene Kopplin and Julian Colescott of Missoula, Montana, Andrew David Kopplin and Andrea Neighbours of New Orleans, Louisiana, and Matthew Alan and Malie Kopplin of Sun Valley, Idaho, and his seven grandchildren, Miles and Finneas Colescott, Zachary and Lila Kopplin, and Ella, Max and Jasper Kopplin. David is also survived by his brother and sister-in-law, J.O. and Betty Kopplin of Denver, Colorado.
Married 56 years, David said of marriage that you will give much to make it good, that it requires extraordinary effort and sensitivity to the relationship and, if you are fortunate, you will go from being young together to growing old and facing death together.
It is deeply comforting to David’s family that in his life he loved so many, and so many loved him. His family thanks the many friends and communities that held David in their hearts.
David was born May 28, 1932 in Appleton, Wisconsin, to Renata Anne (Peters) and Julius Otto Kopplin. He lived 85 years rich in love and joy.
The family requests no flowers. Expressions of sympathy can be made to the Lake Shore Baptist Children’s Center, 5801 Bishop Dr., Waco, TX 76710, or a charity of your choice.