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Fallen hero remembered
  
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By Michele Sample
As “Amazing Grace” bellowed out from bagpipes, firefighter Brian Kopp’s casket was carried out of The Rock Church in Castle Rock.
About 500 firefighters from Elizabeth, Pueblo, the South Metro area and all over Colorado, saluted and honored the fallen hero’s life, Jan. 2. Another 500 guests, friends and family filled the church to a standing-room only capacity.
Kopp, a 38-year-old Larkspur resident and firefighter for the Parker-South Metro Fire and Rescue Authority, died Dec. 27, 2008 as an avalanche pummeled down on him while snowmobiling on Gravel Mountain near Grand Lake. Kopp, along with friend Chuck Goetz and his 19-year-old son, Mark, were at a popular recreation area northwest of Granby.
According to a friend and co-worker, Kopp was trying to help Mark when the 200-foot-wide wall of snow enclosed them.
Chuck Goetz was able to escape the avalanche, while his son and Kopp were not.
During the memorial service, a montage of photographs graced the large projection screen, showing loving memories of family vacations, Jennifer, Brian’s wife on their wedding day, hunting trips with his buddies, and the birth of their twins, Elli and Alan, now 11.
“Brian was the only hunter I knew who would sleep until 10 a.m., eat a real breakfast, shoot the first elk he saw and then go back to camp and get dinner ready for everyone else,” said Brian’s father, Alan Kopp, in a written dedication read by paramedic instructor and friend, Mike Porter.
Memories highlighted a dedicated and loving friend, brother, son, co-worker and especially husband and father. Porter reminisced about a recent Christmas Day potluck the firefighters had at their station.
“A week before the get-together, Brian would constantly ask all the guys, ‘Is your family coming?’” Porter said.
From that Christmas Day, Porter said he will never forget what Brian said about the well-being of his 17-year-old daughter, when she brought her boyfriend to the potluck.
“She has 300 dads watching out for her,” Brian told the young man.
Porter offered the same reassurance to Elli and Allen at the funeral that they would be well watched over.
Brian’s older brother, Kenneth Kopp, a commander in the U.S. Navy, read sentiments from Brian’s wife, Jennifer, daughter and son and other family members.
Jennifer wrote, “How I loved Brian can not be put into words. He always made me smile, was my best friend, and I was privileged to be part of his life for 20 years.”
She also said he was very modest and always quick to point out the accomplishments of others.
“Brian was a mechanic, skillful craftsman, civil servant,” Jennifer wrote. “But if you asked him what he did, he would answer, ‘a firefighter.’”
Brian’s son, Allen, wrote, “My dad was a great human. He was talented, careful and joyful, but most importantly, he was the greatest dad ever. For Christmas he surprised us with a Wii. What could be better than that? I will never forget that, Dad. I will miss you.”
Lt. Mike DeBoer from Parker-South Metro fire said his friend Brian Kopp loved firefighting, snowmobiling and helping people.
“It sounds cliché, but it sums Brian up,” DeBoer said.
According to authorities, Goetz called for help at 11,200 feet on Gravel Mountain. As rescuers arrived at the scene, Goetz had dug Kopp out of the snow and was performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation on his longtime friend. Goetz’s son was buried under 3-4 feet of snow for nearly two hours.
Kopp worked out of fire station 34, at 8871 Maximus Drive near Park Meadows mall for the last eight years.
“We are getting through this tragic event the best we can,” said Becky O’Guin, public information officer for Parker-South Metro fire.
“Along with being a good friend, Brian was a perfect father,” DeBoer said.
Jennifer was reached by phone and said she was thankful to all for everything they did during this time.
Contributions can be made to the Brian Kopp Memorial Fund, c/o FirstBank in Castle Rock.
About 500 firefighters from Elizabeth, Pueblo, the South Metro area and all over Colorado, saluted and honored the fallen hero’s life, Jan. 2. Another 500 guests, friends and family filled the church to a standing-room only capacity.
Kopp, a 38-year-old Larkspur resident and firefighter for the Parker-South Metro Fire and Rescue Authority, died Dec. 27, 2008 as an avalanche pummeled down on him while snowmobiling on Gravel Mountain near Grand Lake. Kopp, along with friend Chuck Goetz and his 19-year-old son, Mark, were at a popular recreation area northwest of Granby.
According to a friend and co-worker, Kopp was trying to help Mark when the 200-foot-wide wall of snow enclosed them.
Chuck Goetz was able to escape the avalanche, while his son and Kopp were not.
During the memorial service, a montage of photographs graced the large projection screen, showing loving memories of family vacations, Jennifer, Brian’s wife on their wedding day, hunting trips with his buddies, and the birth of their twins, Elli and Alan, now 11.
“Brian was the only hunter I knew who would sleep until 10 a.m., eat a real breakfast, shoot the first elk he saw and then go back to camp and get dinner ready for everyone else,” said Brian’s father, Alan Kopp, in a written dedication read by paramedic instructor and friend, Mike Porter.
Memories highlighted a dedicated and loving friend, brother, son, co-worker and especially husband and father. Porter reminisced about a recent Christmas Day potluck the firefighters had at their station.
“A week before the get-together, Brian would constantly ask all the guys, ‘Is your family coming?’” Porter said.
From that Christmas Day, Porter said he will never forget what Brian said about the well-being of his 17-year-old daughter, when she brought her boyfriend to the potluck.
“She has 300 dads watching out for her,” Brian told the young man.
Porter offered the same reassurance to Elli and Allen at the funeral that they would be well watched over.
Brian’s older brother, Kenneth Kopp, a commander in the U.S. Navy, read sentiments from Brian’s wife, Jennifer, daughter and son and other family members.
Jennifer wrote, “How I loved Brian can not be put into words. He always made me smile, was my best friend, and I was privileged to be part of his life for 20 years.”
She also said he was very modest and always quick to point out the accomplishments of others.
“Brian was a mechanic, skillful craftsman, civil servant,” Jennifer wrote. “But if you asked him what he did, he would answer, ‘a firefighter.’”
Brian’s son, Allen, wrote, “My dad was a great human. He was talented, careful and joyful, but most importantly, he was the greatest dad ever. For Christmas he surprised us with a Wii. What could be better than that? I will never forget that, Dad. I will miss you.”
Lt. Mike DeBoer from Parker-South Metro fire said his friend Brian Kopp loved firefighting, snowmobiling and helping people.
“It sounds cliché, but it sums Brian up,” DeBoer said.
According to authorities, Goetz called for help at 11,200 feet on Gravel Mountain. As rescuers arrived at the scene, Goetz had dug Kopp out of the snow and was performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation on his longtime friend. Goetz’s son was buried under 3-4 feet of snow for nearly two hours.
Kopp worked out of fire station 34, at 8871 Maximus Drive near Park Meadows mall for the last eight years.
“We are getting through this tragic event the best we can,” said Becky O’Guin, public information officer for Parker-South Metro fire.
“Along with being a good friend, Brian was a perfect father,” DeBoer said.
Jennifer was reached by phone and said she was thankful to all for everything they did during this time.
Contributions can be made to the Brian Kopp Memorial Fund, c/o FirstBank in Castle Rock.
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