Obituary for Mrs. Katherine Grace Koper (Turk)
Katherine Grace Koper (nee Turk)
Passed away on Saturday February 1, 2020, at the age of 70. Kathy will be missed by Fred, her husband of 48 years; son, Kyle (Shelby) of Thunder Bay; daughter, Kelly (of Whitehorse); and grandchildren, Conner, Edie, and Milla. She was a dear sister of David Turk (Diana) of Peterborough; Barbara Thatcher (Terry) of London; and Mary Trevisan (George) of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.
Kathy was born in London, Ontario, the oldest child to Beatrice and Austin Turk. She always knew she was destined to be a teacher, and graduated from Western’s Teacher’s College in the late sixties. Attracted by the opportunities in the north, she began her teaching career in Kashechewan, Ontario, which is where she met Fred, who worked at the Hudson’s Bay store there. After that, they moved to other job locations, such as Fort Albany, Winisk, Fort Hope, Osnaburgh, and Timmins (kind of south for them!). They eventually ended up in the close knit community of Pickle Lake where Kathy taught and Fred ran a store called “K &K Tackle”. They lived there for 36 years in what Kathy described as their “little log cabin in the woods”.
Within the last two years, Kathy and Fred moved to Thunder Bay, where she was able to receive necessary medical treatment and care. Despite many years of medical challenges, Kathy was always able to find the joy that each day had to offer. Many heartfelt thanks to all the doctors, nurses, and townspeople who helped with Kathy’s medical care - within Pickle Lake, Sioux Lookout and Thunder Bay.
Kathy cherished her family and community and taught us all how to live with a sense of adventure and humour.
Passed away on Saturday February 1, 2020, at the age of 70. Kathy will be missed by Fred, her husband of 48 years; son, Kyle (Shelby) of Thunder Bay; daughter, Kelly (of Whitehorse); and grandchildren, Conner, Edie, and Milla. She was a dear sister of David Turk (Diana) of Peterborough; Barbara Thatcher (Terry) of London; and Mary Trevisan (George) of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.
Kathy was born in London, Ontario, the oldest child to Beatrice and Austin Turk. She always knew she was destined to be a teacher, and graduated from Western’s Teacher’s College in the late sixties. Attracted by the opportunities in the north, she began her teaching career in Kashechewan, Ontario, which is where she met Fred, who worked at the Hudson’s Bay store there. After that, they moved to other job locations, such as Fort Albany, Winisk, Fort Hope, Osnaburgh, and Timmins (kind of south for them!). They eventually ended up in the close knit community of Pickle Lake where Kathy taught and Fred ran a store called “K &K Tackle”. They lived there for 36 years in what Kathy described as their “little log cabin in the woods”.
Within the last two years, Kathy and Fred moved to Thunder Bay, where she was able to receive necessary medical treatment and care. Despite many years of medical challenges, Kathy was always able to find the joy that each day had to offer. Many heartfelt thanks to all the doctors, nurses, and townspeople who helped with Kathy’s medical care - within Pickle Lake, Sioux Lookout and Thunder Bay.
Kathy cherished her family and community and taught us all how to live with a sense of adventure and humour.