Earl Kops

Earl Kops was a gifted man, who made beautiful music from his concertina, music that entertained and inspired all those around him. He was best known for his concertina, but there was so much more than music to the man. More than anything, Earl was a devoted family man, a loving husband, father and grandfather, and a loyal friend to so many. His life, love and memory plays on in their hearts even today. Earls story began on a hot summer day in 1930, near the shoreline city of Muskegon, Michigan. Those were dark days in this country, which was caught in the teeth of the Great Depression, affecting every American family. Yet on August 13, 1930, a warm, muggy Wednesday, Godfrey and Minne (Stapel) Kops found reason to celebrate, with the birth of a baby boy, a son they named Earl Edward Kops. Little Earls mother was picking pickles on the familys farm in Dalton Township when she went into labor. She rushed to the hospital, but the family joke was that Earl was born in a pickle patch! Earl was joined by his older sister Lorraine on the farm on Bard Road, where the family grew food, mainly for themselves. His dad kept a day job at Continental Motors to pay the bills. Eventually the family moved into the city of Muskegon proper, where Earl attended Froeble School, Moon School, and later Muskegon High School. As a boy Earl was a Cub Scout, and picked celery in the summers for some spending cash. He also attended St. Johns Church downtown, where his large extended family all went, too. Eventually their church merged with McGraft Memorial Congregational Church, and they merged right with it. As a young boy, Earls dad taught him how to play the concertina, a small, accordion-like instrument with a fervent following. Earl was instantly enamored with the concertina, forming a lifelong passion for playing. By the time Earl went to Muskegon High School, he had grown into a strapping young man, and played on the Big Reds excellent football teams in the late 40s. He also met a beautiful young classmate named Lois Crete, who was two years his junior. Their age difference didnt deter their attraction, however, and they soon began dating. After graduating from Muskegon, Earl set off to Chicago to find his fortune. He found a job selling Florsheim Shoes, and would return home on weekends to see his beloved Lois. He stay in the Windy City was a brief one, however, and he soon returned to Muskegon. Earl and Lois were married on September 6, 1952, beginning a beautiful life together. Lois was just 20 years old, and they would one day tell their grandkids about having to sneak her into the bar! The newlyweds bought a house on Harvey Street in Muskegon for just $4,000, a house that would be so special to them, where they lived the rest of their lives. It wasnt long before they became parents, too, with their son David joining the family in 1953. Their daughter Sandra rounded out the happy family in 1955. Earl sold insurance for Metropolitan for awhile, but disliked the collections aspect of it and the weekend hours, so he found a sales job at Dykstra Carpet, doing some estimates and installations on the side. His son David recalled his dad driving around town and pointing out all the homes hed put flooring in. He retired from Dykstra in 1995, after 30 years there. When his kids were young, Earl had dreams of becoming a professional concertina musician, but Lois put her foot down, and made him choose between his kids and his music. He chose his children. Earl was a very attentive and loving father, a Boy Scout troop leader and loyal band parent, too. The family took yearly vacations, and spent a lot of time with their large extended family, who they socialized with often. Earl loved to play a card game called Pedro with his family, which was always a hotly-contested match for family bragging rights. After their kids had grown, Earl and Lois became very involved with the Eagles and the Moose Lodge, where they made so many good friends. They also played on the Moose Lodge bowling leagues, and played on golf leagues together, as well. Earl also resumed his love for the concertina, and played with fellow musicians often, sharing music, ideas, and helped each other with repairs. Earl played at the Village Inn, the Polish Falcon Hall and many other places around Muskegon, and was quite talented. He joined the World Concertina Congress, and was even inducted into the groups Hall of Fame in 1998. Earl had other outlets for his creativity, though. He took up wood carving, and created beautiful ducks, dolphins, golfers and monks, too. Earl and Lois also enjoyed traveling, and took great trips to Europe, Hawaii and many cruises, usually with friends and family, too. Family was always most important to Earl, more important than games, hobbies, or even music. He doted on his grandkids, attended all their activities and events, and he and Lois babysat for them often. On each of the kids birthdays, they took them out for a special dinner. When they were little, Earl would pile the grandkids in a little wagon and pull them down to the park to play on the swings. Earls beloved Lois died in 2000, after a battle with leukemia, and Earl took it understandably hard. Lois was his soulmate, and he was heartbroken they didnt get to spend more of their retirement together. He often told his kids afterward to spend as much time together as they can, that its those moments that are most important in life. Earl stayed active with Lois gone, playing the concertina, playing golf and going bowling. He also helped out with the local elections, and was active at church, too. He even went on a few dates, though he vowed to never marry again. In the spring of 2007, he was diagnosed with bone cancer, and the disease quickly spread. Sadly, Earl died on Saturday, June 30, 2007, at the age of 76. Earl was a wonderful man, a creative, talented and fun-loving family man. He was a gifted musician, a loyal husband, and a loving father and grandfather. Today, the song of his life plays on in the hearts of all who knew him. He will be greatly missed. Earl is survived by his son, David (Jeanne) Kops of Spring Lake; his daughter, Sandra (David) Bakos of Twin Lake; his sister Lorraine Gollach of Muskegon; 5 grandchildren, Christopher Kops, Deborah Kops, Sarah Kops, Alex Bakos, Steven Bakos. Services are scheduled for Friday, July 6, 2007, 11:00 AM at McGraft Memorial Congregational Church with Dr. Gerald Wahr officiating. Interment at Sunrise Memorial Gardens. Visitation is Thursday, 2-4 & 6-8 PM at Clock Life Story Funeral Home - Muskegon. MEMORIAL: Harbor Hospice or McGraft Memorial Congregational Church. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com to share a memory or sign the online guest book.