Rodney Paul Thomas Soppe, 86, passed away on September 4, 2016. He was born July 17, 1930 to George and Lillian (Lud) Soppe in Julesburg, Co.
He grew up in Denver until the mid-1940's when his family moved to the Carpenter area. Rodney graduated from Carpenter High School in 1948. He attended the University of Wyoming for two years until drafted into the Army during the Korean conflict. He served as a front line medic and was honorably discharged in 1954. Rodney married Mary Maxine Gordon of Grover, Colorado on December 26, 1952.
Besides being a farmer, Rodney was a barber, hunter, manufacturer of iron chisel points, builder of a 4-wheel drive tractor and tillage equipment, calligraphy writer, trap shooter and gunsmith. In the community, Rodney was involved in the Pine Bluffs Trap Club, Carpenter Fire Department Board, Laramie County Solid Waste Board, Sexton of the Carpenter Cemetery, and Past Master of Burns Masonic Lodge #41.
He will be missed by his wife, wife, Maxine of 63 years; sister, Leola Bauman; brother-in-law, Donald Gordon; children, Mike (Sue) Soppe of Libby, MT, David (Cindy) Soppe of Kaycee, WY, Lorraine (Gary) Smith of Carpenter, WY, Mary Soppe of Santa Fe, NM and Lucinda (Ed) Smith of Carpenter, WY; grandchildren, Christine Berestoff, Shannon Lusk, Robert Soppe, Cody & Casey Smith, Ana & Molly Brouwer, Megan and Rebecca Smith; six great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation was held on Friday, September 9, 2016 at Schrader, Aragon and Jacoby Funeral Home. A graveside service was held at Carpenter Cemetery at Saturday, September 10.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made for the Masonic Scholarship or 4-H Shooting Sports to Wyoming Bank & Trust, PO Box 100, Burns, WY 82053.
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