John Copeland

View Video Tribute Mr. John A. Copeland, age 92, of Greenville, passed away Wednesday, October 3, 2007 at the Fred & Lena Meijer Heart Center of Spectrum Health-Butterworth Hospital, Grand Rapids. The son of Albert & Pearl (Drake) Copeland, he was born on Feb. 19, 1915. He married Elizabeth Calista Betty Bower, at her parents home, on Sept. 4, 1937. Together, they raised two children, and were life-long members of the First Baptist Church in Greenville. Although John took great pride in farming, he also worked for Wolverine World Wide at their plants in Greenville and Rockford. When production switched from gloves to shoes at the Greenville plant, John had the distinct honor of making the first pair of shoes. He retired as supervisor of the cutting department after 35 years of service. A devoted husband and father, he found his greatest pleasure in his family. He was preceded in death by his parents; eight brothers and sisters; and his wife, Betty Copeland on Oct. 8, 2006. Surviving are a daughter, Lynda Lake; a son and daughter-in-law, Roger & Jackie Copeland, all of Greenville; four grandchildren, Rick Copeland, Ken & Judy Copeland, John & KD Lake, Leslee & Chad Emmons; nine great grandchildren (with the tenth on the way), Christopher, Mykalia, and Kendra Copeland, Taylor John, Olivia, Peyton, and Cooper Lake, and Kennedy Elizabeth and Keegan Emmons; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 6, 2007 at the First Baptist Church, corner of W. Washington and S. Franklin, Greenville, with burial following at Rest Haven Memory Gardens, Belding. Visitation is Friday from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. at the Brown-Teman & Christiansen Funeral Home, 511 S. Franklin Street, Greenville. Instead of flowers, John would have appreciated contributions to the First Baptist Church. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of John Copeland, please visit our flower store.