Murrel Clarance Koppa, age 89, resident of Hiattville, Kansas died Saturday, October 14, 2006 at the Fort Scott Manor where he had recently moved. He was born June 12, 1917 in Girard, Kansas the son of William Ernest Koppa and Mary Jane Cooley Koppa. Murrel married Goldie Nadine Page on April 17, 1942 in Fort Scott. He was retired in 1982 as a road construction carpenter for the Midwest Construction Company of Holton, Kansas. Prior to that period he had worked at the Fort Scott Brick Plant and Arron's Produce. During these times he operated his own farm. He collected coins and loved gardening.

Survivors include his wife, Goldie, of the home; five sons, Bill Eugene Koppa, Manhattan, Kansas, Donnie Joe Koppa and wife Helen, Topeka, Kansas, Jack Lee Koppa, Emporia, Kansas, Jim Dean Koppa and wife Cheryl, Fort Scott and Roger Dale Koppa, Sumter, South Carolina; one daughter, Mary Ann Homan and husband Les of California. Also surviving are two half-brothers, John Koppa, Mayetta, Kansas and George Koppa, Fort Scott; half-sister Judy Kruse, Helper, Kansas; 12 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter. He was preceded in death by a son, Murrel Bobby Koppa; daughter Thelma Koppa; two sisters; and two brothers.

The Rev. Jared Witt will conduct funeral services at 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 19, 2006 in the Cheney Witt Memorial Chapel. Burial will follow in Hiattville Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7-8 p.m. Wednesday in the Cheney Witt Chapel. Memorials are suggested to the American Heart Association and may be sent to Cheney Witt Chapel, P.O. Box 347, Fort Scott, KS 66701.