Janice Rae Kopriva
July 1, 1942 – January 31, 2023
TRAER- Janice Rae Kopriva, 80, of Traer, passed away on Tuesday January 31, 2023 at Sunrise Hill Care Center in Traer. On Saturday 4 February 2023 at 11:30 a.m. a Christian funeral Mass will be held at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Traer with Father Anthony Boahen Nketiah as celebrant. The burial will then take place in the Catholic Cemetery of St. Paul in Traer. The visitation will take place on Friday, February 3, 2023 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the Catholic Church of St. Paul in Traer, followed by a scripture and rosary service at 7:00 p.m.
Janice was born on July 1, 1942 in Dysart, Iowa to Albert and Grace (Foley) Dethlefs.
She graduated from Dysart High School in 1960. She attended Paris Academy Beauty School in Cedar Rapids.
On July 22, 1961, she was married to Joseph Kopriva at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Dysart. Janice worked at Beauty Box in Traer in the late 60’s and early 70’s. She also ran the Ole Depot in Traer and worked at the Meskwaki Casino for several years. Janice was a member of the Catholic Church of St. Paul in Traer. She was known for running the concession stand for baseball and softball games. Janice enjoyed drinking coffee with friends, taking summer trips with her sisters, and singing and dancing, especially songs by Elvis and Barbara Streisand. She also enjoyed playing games, gambling and talking to everyone she met. Janice loved visiting her grandchildren, holding her great-grandchildren and cooking for her family.
Among the survivors are her husband of sixty-one, Joe of Traer; their children Curt (Barb) Kopriva of Traer, Joe (Sarah) Kopriva of Webster City, Todd Kopriva of Traer, Julie (Terry Steinbach) Macauley of Cedar Rapids, Denise (David) Danker of Traer; Traer’s Dan Kopriva and Traer’s Jay Kopriva; sixteen grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren; a brother, Don (Doreen) Dethlefs of Cedar Falls; two sisters, Lori (Jim) Maltas of Waverly and Shirley Lyman of Lakewood, CO; and several nieces and nephews.
Her parents had preceded her in death; a grandson, Kyle Macauley; a great-grandson, Leo Salzwedel; and two sisters, Judy Perkins and Louise Dethlefs.
Memorials can be addressed to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Kruse-Phillips Funeral Home, Tama-Toledo, is helping the family with the preparations.
