July 22, 1922 — Feb. 3, 2017
Maynard Koppen passed away on Feb. 3, 2017, at Fort Dodge.
Maynard Peter Koppen, the son of Peter L. and Gertrude (Becker) Koppen, was born July 2, 1922, at Lakota, Iowa.
He graduated as valedictorian of the Lakota High School class of 1941. Maynard served in the United States Army during World War II, serving in the trenches for which he received four bronze battle stars.
On May 25, 1946, Maynard married Eva Eggerth at Swea City. Maynard graduated from Iowa State University in 1951 with a degree in agronomy. From 1951 to 1979, Maynard was a soil conservation scientist in the United States Department of Agriculture. He was known as the ‘Million Acre Man’ and authored several county soil surveys in Iowa. During his retirement, Maynard worked as a bean inspector for Land O’ Lakes, at Becker Florists and at the Webster County Assessor’s office.
Maynard was a member of First United Methodist Church. He enjoyed playing Cribbage and 500 and could be found working and making shelves in his shop for the stuffed animals he collected over the years. Maynard was also known for his longtime service as a volunteer at Trinity Regional Medical Center. He will be remembered fondly as a loving husband, father and grandfather.
Maynard is survived by his wife, Eva; his children, Kathleen (Robert) Shearer, Maquoketa; Daniel (Sandra) Koppen, Suffolk, VA; Dori (fiancé Duane Wood) Snow, Ford Dodge; and Mary (Timothy) Carson, Marshville, NC; nine grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren; and his brother, Paul Koppen, Lakota. Maynard is preceded in death by his parents and his siblings, Florence, Dorothy, Irvin, Leroy, Willis and infant sister Frances.