Love for Stacey Kopp and the Kids

In the early morning hours of Sunday September 26, 2021, Stacey lost his beautiful wife of 19 years, Susan, very suddenly and unexpectedly. Susan and Stacey have 3 adult children, Murray, Trinity, and Alex, 1 minor child Ashanti, who is 15, and have legal guardianship of 3 of their 5 grandchildren, Khloe 13, Aries 11, and Raemi 8, after the passing of their mother, Susan's daughter Tamara, in June 2020. They also have twin grandsons, age 5, who they regularly have come stay over for visit. Stacey and Susan are also foster parents for many years, and have had the same four boys placed in their care since the boys were small. The boys range in age from 11-16.

Since Susan has unexpectedly and tragically passed away, the foster children will be placed in new homes. The other children will stay with Stacey at the time however, he will have to get a routine and may not be able to return to work for some time due to the understandable grief. I have been asked by the extended family to help out and set this up for funds to be used so Stacey doesn't have to worry and rush back to work before he's ready.

I have known Susan since I myself was a small child of about 8 years old, maybe younger. I am finding it hard to write about her in past tense, so I will write about her as she's here. And she would just look at me and say oh shush. And laugh. And then blush and smile. Because that's the kind heart she has. Susan has a heart of gold. She would give the shirt off her back to a person struggling. She would give her plate up for one of her children or grandchildren to eat first. She is always the first one to jump in and help if there was work to be done. She kept organization and order in a house of 8 children, 5 of them rowdy rambunctious boys, and then volunteered to have other children come over and play too. She is a prayer warrior. A woman full of faith. She is others minded and thought of herself only after everyone else was taken care of. Her family is her world, and now it's our turn to help her family, just like she helped so many people. Any amount helps. Thank you from the bottom of all of our hearts.

Sheri Zuidhof (friend)

Lena Derksen (Susan's sister)