Obituary for Kenneth W. "Ken" Kopke
Kenneth (Ken) W. Kopke , age 78 passed away on Sunday, August 29, 2021 at the Isabella County Medical Care Facility. Ken was born on September 20, 1942 in Tecumseh, Michigan to Paul and Mary (Edwards) Kopke. He graduated from Sand Creek High School, Class of 1960 and went on to receive his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Toledo and his Master’s degree from Bowling Green State University. He taught elementary physical education at Van Wert, Ohio and then was assistant Athletic Trainer at Western Michigan University before moving to Mt. Pleasant in 1969.
Ken served as Central Michigan's head athletic trainer from 1969 to 1985 where he initiated the first nationally approved undergraduate Sports Medicine major and saw it blossom into one of the top programs in the United States. He taught in the program for 16 years while serving as the trainer for thousands of Chippewa athletes.
One of his greatest accomplishments was creating Athletic Training Services, Inc. (ATS) a consulting, recruiting, and leasing company in 1983 that introduced sports medicine to industry. Once established, ATS entered a joint venture with Healthtrax International and created Work-Fit an on-site sports medicine center for Fortune 500 companies to assist in controlling their health care costs using sports medicine techniques and personnel.
Born on a farm, educated as a teacher, an athletic trainer by profession, and a businessman by choice, described the diversity of Ken’s interests and life.
Outside of his profession, Ken served as an elder and a deacon for the First Church of Christ, on the board of directors for Michigan Christian Campus Ministries and Impact Ministries international. He was also a trustee for Deerfield Township for 16 years and served as the chairperson of the Planning Commission. He also served as the office manager for Deerfield Township while administering the Joint Construction Code Authority for Sherman, Nottawa, Deerfield, Fremont and Rolland Townships.
After his multiple retirements, he served as a volunteer for the Commission on Aging as a driver for Meals on Wheels and medical transports and enjoyed serving on the board of advisors. He also served on the Board of Education for the Renaissance Public School Academy, a charter school, for 10 years.
Ken is survived by his daughter, Kendra Brown and her sons Zachary (Sarah) Brown, Ryan Brown, and Evan Brown all of Mt. Pleasant; daughter-in-law Kady Kopke, and grandchildren Jordan, Margaret, Jason, Steven and Sydnee Kopke and Michael Sedell, all of Mt. Pleasant; four great -grandchildren and one brother, Thomas (Judi) Kopke of Adrian, Michigan.
Ken was preceded in death by his wife Vivian in 2019, his son Greg Kopke in 2014 and his parents.
Services for Ken will be held at Clark Family Funeral Chapel – West Lawn Pavilion on Thursday, September 2, 2021, at 11 a.m. with Benjamen Evers officiating. Interment will follow at Two Rivers Cemetery. A luncheon will take place at the First Church of Christ in Mt. Pleasant. The family will receive friends at Clark Family Funeral Chapel on Wednesday from 4-8 p.m. and at Clark Family Funeral Chapel – West Lawn Pavilion on Thursday, from 10 a.m. until the time of the service. Memorial contributions may be made to the First Church of Christ, Isabella County Medical Care Facility or the Isabella County Commission on Aging. Envelopes will be available at the funeral chapel.
Ken served as Central Michigan's head athletic trainer from 1969 to 1985 where he initiated the first nationally approved undergraduate Sports Medicine major and saw it blossom into one of the top programs in the United States. He taught in the program for 16 years while serving as the trainer for thousands of Chippewa athletes.
One of his greatest accomplishments was creating Athletic Training Services, Inc. (ATS) a consulting, recruiting, and leasing company in 1983 that introduced sports medicine to industry. Once established, ATS entered a joint venture with Healthtrax International and created Work-Fit an on-site sports medicine center for Fortune 500 companies to assist in controlling their health care costs using sports medicine techniques and personnel.
Born on a farm, educated as a teacher, an athletic trainer by profession, and a businessman by choice, described the diversity of Ken’s interests and life.
Outside of his profession, Ken served as an elder and a deacon for the First Church of Christ, on the board of directors for Michigan Christian Campus Ministries and Impact Ministries international. He was also a trustee for Deerfield Township for 16 years and served as the chairperson of the Planning Commission. He also served as the office manager for Deerfield Township while administering the Joint Construction Code Authority for Sherman, Nottawa, Deerfield, Fremont and Rolland Townships.
After his multiple retirements, he served as a volunteer for the Commission on Aging as a driver for Meals on Wheels and medical transports and enjoyed serving on the board of advisors. He also served on the Board of Education for the Renaissance Public School Academy, a charter school, for 10 years.
Ken is survived by his daughter, Kendra Brown and her sons Zachary (Sarah) Brown, Ryan Brown, and Evan Brown all of Mt. Pleasant; daughter-in-law Kady Kopke, and grandchildren Jordan, Margaret, Jason, Steven and Sydnee Kopke and Michael Sedell, all of Mt. Pleasant; four great -grandchildren and one brother, Thomas (Judi) Kopke of Adrian, Michigan.
Ken was preceded in death by his wife Vivian in 2019, his son Greg Kopke in 2014 and his parents.
Services for Ken will be held at Clark Family Funeral Chapel – West Lawn Pavilion on Thursday, September 2, 2021, at 11 a.m. with Benjamen Evers officiating. Interment will follow at Two Rivers Cemetery. A luncheon will take place at the First Church of Christ in Mt. Pleasant. The family will receive friends at Clark Family Funeral Chapel on Wednesday from 4-8 p.m. and at Clark Family Funeral Chapel – West Lawn Pavilion on Thursday, from 10 a.m. until the time of the service. Memorial contributions may be made to the First Church of Christ, Isabella County Medical Care Facility or the Isabella County Commission on Aging. Envelopes will be available at the funeral chapel.