Paul Johnathan Koop's Obituary
Paul Johnathan Koop was born Saturday, May 28, 1927, the second of four children to John J. and Maria (Heinrichs) Koop, near Fairview, Oklahoma. He grew up on the farm which his grandparents Koop homesteaded northwest of Fairview, Oklahoma. His mother, before marriage, served at the Post Oak Mission to the Comanche Indians in southern Oklahoma. His parents were members of the North Fairview M.B. church. When Paul was 9 years old, his mother was taken to her heavenly home. His father never remarried, so the children grew up without a mother in the home.
The family was closely knit and sang and played together as a singing quartet in churches in the area. John played the mandolin, Paul the Hawaiian guitar, Ira the bass viol, and Marie the Spanish guitar. He accepted the Lord as his personal savior at age 12 and was baptized in Eagle Chief Creek near Cleo Springs, Oklahoma. He was involved with his siblings in 4H and attended a rural one-room school, where he was the janitor, arriving early to warm up the building and other chores.
On May 26, 1951, he married Sarah Nusz at Fairview, Oklahoma with a reception following at Conway Springs, KS. He adored her. They started their family and made their home near Fairview, Oklahoma, and then O’Keene, Oklahoma, where they farmed and the first five children were born. In 1958, they moved to Howard, Kansas and farmed there until their retirement. After moving to Kansas, there were four more children born into the family. He along with his wife and children worked together on the family farm northeast of Howard, raising wheat, soybeans, cattle, etc.
Faith was central to him, and he always wanted to be a witness for Christ. He was a member of the Howard Independent Baptist Church and the Gideons. He enjoyed serving the Lord with his musical talents, and was a song leader at church for years, and played his bass guitar, violin, Spanish guitar and Hawaiian guitar. He was a loving Father and husband and was known for his honesty and fairness to everyone.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Johnny, and Ira, a sister Marie Lois, his son David Earl, and one infant son Kenneth Rodney.
He is survived by his wife Sarah; daughters Judy (Charles) Fox of Fredonia, KS, Helen (Don) Peterson of Eureka, KS, Linda (David) Allen of Miller, SD, and Lisa (Richard) Aikins of Stark City, MO; three sons, Elden (Doreen) of Howard, KS, Rodney of Severy, KS, and Kendall of Howard, KS; fifteen grandchildren, and numerous great-grandchildren.
The Lord took him to his heavenly home on the morning of Tuesday, December 27, 2022 at the Greenwood County Hospital in Eureka, KS.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM on Friday, December 30, 2022 at the Flint Hills Assembly of God Church in Howard, KS. The family will greet friends at visitation for 1 hour prior to the service.
Interment will follow in South Lawn Cemetery, Severy, KS
Memorial contributions can be made to the Howard Independent Baptist Church and can be left with or mailed to the funeral home.
Services entrusted to Countryside Funeral Home, 206 E. Washington, P.O. Box 1233, Howard, KS 67349.
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