Effie Myrtle Koppes, Effie Myrtle Kopes, 98, of North Newton, died Monday December 20. 2012 at Asbury Park in Newton. Her father's family immigrated to the United States in 1874 when he was four years old. They settled in the Pawnee Rock area. That is where she was born on October 10, 1914, the daughter of John J. and Effie Wedel Schmidt.
Effie graduated from Pawnee Rock High School in 19134. She came to Bethel College in 1937, where she would receive her teaching certificate. Effie Taught for two years at a country school in Barton Countyy and Taught second grade in Burlington for two years.
While attending Bethel College, she met Clinton Koppes. They were married July 16, 1944, at the Bethel College Mennonite Church. They moved to Lincoln Nebraska to live until returning to North Newton in 1946.
Effie was very active at the Bethel College Mennonite Church,, where she taught Sunday School and Bible School. For 26 years, she was the accounting clerk at the Mennonite Press.
Survivors include her husband, Clinton of the home in North Newton; sons, Duane of Newton and Clayton of Cleveland, Ohio; daughter, Barbara Beal of Glen Carbon, Illinois and granddaughter, Kathryn Preuss of Bloomington, Indiana.
Mr. Koppes is preceded in death by her parents; three brothers, Anton, Glenn and John Schmidt; and two sisters, Clara Deckert and Arpha Kliver.
Funeral services will be December 14 at Broadway Colonial Funeral home in Newton. Interment wiull be in the Greenwood Cemetery.
A memorial has been established with Bethel College Mennonite Church. Arrangements by Broadway Colonial Funeral Home, Newton.
