CLUTIER-Alfred Louis Kopriva, age 81, of Clutier, died Wednesday, December 19, 2007 at Carrington Place in Toledo under the care of Cedar Valley Hospice after battling cancer for many years. A Funeral Liturgy will be held on Saturday, December 22, 2007 at 10:30 AM at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Clutier with Father Jerry Blake officiating. Interment will follow at St. Wenceslaus Cemetery in rural Clutier. Visitation will be held Friday, December 21, 2007 from 4 to 7 PM at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Clutier where there will be a Rosary recited at 5 PM and a Vigil Service at 7 PM.
Alfred L. Kopriva was born on June 23, 1926 west of Dysart. He was the oldest child of Louis and Agnes (Kalina) Kopriva. He attended country school four miles west of Dysart and graduated high school from Dysart in 1944.
He served his country in the US Navy during World War II on the USS Wisconsin. After returning home from the service, he did custom baling and helped his Dad farm, and worked part-time at the Hudson Creamery.
Alfred married Maxine Prusha of rural Tama on August 26, 1948 at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Tama. They rented a small house in Dysart and later built one on his parents' farm and lived there until they purchased their current farm south of Clutier in 1951. They farmed this and his parents' farm along with part-time trucking, driving school bus, and buying hogs for Wilson Pack in Cedar Rapids. He also built up an Ayshire dairy herd and added a poultry operation as his sons grew up to help. He was active in poultry and dairy meetings where he served as Tama County Dairy Board president. Alfred was a Vigortone feed salesman for several years. He enjoyed planting trees, traveling, playing cards, dancing, raising pigeons, and loved to tell jokes. His grandchildren and great-grandchildren were the apple of his eye.
He was a devout Catholic and was a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Clutier and served many years on the church board. He was also a member of the Catholic Order of Foresters, Fraternal Order of Eagles, and the American Legion.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Survivors include his wife of fifty-nine years, Maxine of Clutier; four sons, Gerald Kopriva, Tom (Judy) Kopriva, and Jim (Sandi) Kopriva all of Clutier, and John (Bonnie) Kopriva of Traer; nine grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; one sister, Marjorie (the late Robert) Kriz of Dysart; and one brother, Hubert (Donna) Kopriva of Belmond.
A memorial fund has been established.