Thomas Lee Stoppelberg

STOPPELBERG, Thomas Lee
Of Portage Tom passed away Saturday morning, March 13, 2010 following a courageous 6 year battle with Carcinoid Cancer. He was born May 26, 1952 in Kalamazoo, the son of Harm and Alice Thomas Stoppelberg. Growing up in Kalamazoo's Oakwood neighborhood, Tom was a graduate of Loy Norrix High School in 1970, where he played football. He was a veteran of the United States Army for 3 years during the Vietnam Conflict, stationed in Scofield Barracks, Oahu, Hawaii. He served as a Sergeant in military intelligence. He learned to love Hawaii, but hate pineapple. After returning to Kalamazoo, Tom met and married his first wife Linda Finley in 1976. He adopted her son, Thomas James "TJ". They later had a daughter, Michelle. They divorced in 2001. He graduated from Kalamazoo Valley Community College in 1995 with an Associate's Degree in Applied Science. Tom worked hard all his life at Fabrical, Burroughs and especially Kalamazoo Aeromotive, where he was Production Supervisor until his medical retirement in 2004. In 2002, he met Barbara Hopps and they married in 2004. They celebrated nearly 6 years of a happy, loving marriage. He helped her finish raising her 3 children, and loved them as his own. Tom enjoyed camping, the Lake Michigan beach for horseshoes, sunsets, and walks to collect beach glass. He also enjoyed woodworking, NASCAR, University of Michigan Football and Marching Band. Most of all he loved his family dearly and taught many life lessons, but especially those about love and endurance. He leaves to cherish his memory, his wife, Barbara Hopps; his two children, Thomas James "TJ" Holly Stoppelberg, Michelle Matt Dorbin Stoppelberg-Dorbin, three step-children, Jeremy Danielle Bronson, Hilary Bronson, and Ariel Bronson; sister, Mary Richard Kirby; sister-in-law, Kathy Tom Grace Hopps; brothers-in-law, Gary Maribeth Hopps, and Rob Delsa Hopps; and many nieces and nephews. Preceding him in death were his parents, and an infant sister, Carol Louise Stoppelberg. Funeral services for Tom will be at 12:00 PM on Wednesday at Oakwood Bible Church, 4100 Oakland Drive, Kalamazoo, with Pastor Stephen A. Johnson officiating. Friends may visit with the family on Tuesday from 2-4 PM and 6-8 PM at Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Westside Chapel, 3926 S. 9th Street, and on Wednesday from 11:00 AM until the time of services at the church. Interment will be in Mt. Ever-Rest Memorial Park. Memorial contributions may be directed to Oakwood Bible Church or Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan.