William Kopper Obituary

Kopper
William Bruce
Kopper
April 22, 1934
November 13, 2025

William Bruce Kopper, age 91, was welcomed into heaven by Jesus on November 13, 2025. He was a beloved husband, father of four daughters, grandfather of eleven, and great-grandfather of eleven. He was a committed Christian, a mentor, a lawyer and financial advisor, a rancher and outdoorsman. He is survived by his wife of 68 years Carolyn, his daughters Cathy Penshorn (Mark), Betsy Morcos (Shereen), Nancy Champion (Mark), Susie Ecklund (Eric), his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as his sister Juliett Starr Kopper and his brother Philip Dana Kopper and their children and grandchildren.
Bruce was born in New York City on April 22, 1934, to native New Yorkers William Conrad Kopper and Mary Florine Dana Kopper. He graduated from The Putney School in Vermont and attended Brown University for two years before attending and graduating from Washington University School of Law in St. Louis. He was president of his fraternity, Kappa Alpha. It was there he met his future wife Carolyn, and they married in 1957. Shortly thereafter, Bruce joined the legal department of the FRISCO railroad, practicing corporate law there for the next 10 years.
In 1973, he moved his family to Colorado Springs, Colorado when he became the legal counsel for Golden Cycle Corp. After Golden Cycle, he returned to the general practice of law for a decade before expanding his practice to include Kopper Investment Management. He did not believe in "retirement" but remained engaged and interested in all matters of the stock market to the end of his life.
Bruce was a devoted husband to Carolyn and an involved dad. He coached his daughters' recreational sports teams, taught them to shoot and fish, and attended music and dance performances, art exhibits and athletic events. Ever the "thinker," he engaged his family in problem-solving and debate on many topics. He was passionate about encouraging them, and others, to reach their full potential, making himself available to family and friends for wise counsel and a listening ear. He was discerning and thoughtful in his response to almost any topic and loved thinking out loud together to wrestle with hard questions about ministry, business, politics and planning. He valued family above all else and delighted in one-on-one time with each member as well as family-wide gatherings filled with "happy chaos."
In Colorado Springs he was deeply involved in the community, lending strategic thinking and financial backing to a host of organizations. He was treasurer of the board of the National Space Foundation and of the Cheyenne Mtn School board and served on the boards of the Colorado Springs Symphony and the Colorado Springs Philharmonic Foundation. He was also a member of the Missouri and Colorado Bar Associations and The Broadmoor and Colorado Springs Rotary Clubs. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church for 50 years and was an enthusiastic supporter of Young Life, Hope & Home, and The MomCo (MOPS International).
He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
Memorial Services will be held on Saturday, Jan 3, 2026 at 10:20 am at First Presbyterian Church of Colorado Springs, 219 E. Bijou Street, Colorado Springs, CO. Memorial gifts in his memory can be directed to Hope & Home or Family Life Services, both of Colorado Springs.