Henry Fred “Hank” Kopacz Jr

Henry Fred Kopacz, Jr. “Hank”, age 96 of Wisconsin Rapids, passed away Wednesday, August 28, 2024, at Riverview Hospital in Wisconsin Rapids.
Services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, September 4, 2024, at St. Lawerance Catholic Church in Wisconsin Rapids. Burial will be at Restlawn Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday at Herman-Taylor Funeral Home and from 10:00 a.m. until the time of services on Wednesday at the church.
Henry was born on June 9, 1928, in Chicago, IL to Henry and Eva (Geiras) Kopacz, Sr.
Henry married Frances C. Grabowski on June 14, 1952, in Gilman, WI. They were married 45 years. Fran was the anchor so Henry could do what Henry loved. Together they adopted four children Michael (Vicki) Kopacz of Wis. Rapids, Jim (Donna) Kopacz of Wesley Chapel, FL, Judy (Blake) Schultz of Wis. Rapids, Mary Jo Smits (Tom Wiskow) of Fond du Lac, WI.
The Kopacz Family moved to Sheldon, WI in 1929 and began farming. Kopacz’s met the Grabowski family at an auction and became friends as the families were able to speak Polish to each other. Henry worked on the family farm, set up bowling pins for the local bowling establishment, and also at a young age was buying, repairing, and selling cars. Henry attended Tony High School after graduating. He worked various jobs in the Sheldon area, one being a truck driver hauling material for the construction of the Lake Holcombe Dam. A few years later Henry moved to Chicago and was an excavation equipment operator for his Uncle Joe Kopacz. Henry became a mechanic and auto body repair man for auto dealers. Henry developed a neighborhood Auto Repair Business working in the evenings and weekends. He was also employed at the Bucyrus-Erie Plant until it closed. While in Chicago he courted and married Frances Grabowski. In 1959 with their son Michael, they moved to Wisconsin Rapids. Eventually opening Hank’s Auto & Super Auto Supply. For a short time was a Subaru dealer and Henry attended many auto auctions. Hank’s Auto provided towing services for Golden Sands Speedway and occasionally Hank entered a vehicle into Demolition Derbies. Henry owned and sponsored the championship stock car #65 driven by his brother Vic Kopacz. Henry was all work and hardly any play, but when he played it included Polka music, playing the concertina, and dancing, collecting antique cars and including an antique fire truck entering them into many parades, enjoyed a little bit of fishing, snowmobiling around the car lot, spinning circles in the snow with his family in the vehicle after church, after a snowfall Henry plowed snow into piles as high as he could for the Kopacz kids to sled and dig tunnels. Henry provided a minibike for summer entertainment and took family vacations throughout the US visiting sites and relatives on the way. Henry spoke Polish his parents’ native language and visited Poland in 1998. Henry and his long-time friend Mary Kiedrowski met at a church picnic. They traveled together attending polka dances. Henry was a Member of St. Lawrence Catholic Church.
Henry had an extensive language, an extensive phone number list (his lifeline), and an extensive amount of stuff that had “value”. He had an article for every ailment along with a supplement to go with it. Henry was quick-witted and reluctantly decided to retire in 2023 at the age of 95 years old.
Henry is survived by his children, and his grandchildren Tyler Kopacz, Kayla Schmidt (Cole), Abby Kopacz, David St. John, Joshua (Tricia) Greeno, Dayna Schultz, Gifty Schultz, Kaycee Schultz, Emmanuel Schultz, Christopher (Haley) Smits, Jessica Smits, Samantha Smits and Kyle (Ellie Glodoski) Smits. And Great Grandchildren: Torin Greeno, Christopher Smits Jr, Jordan Smits, Kolton Buss, Gabby Smits, Trinity Lustro, Carter Baltus, Kyro Whitmore, Bryer Smits and Baby Smits (November). Special Friend Mary Kiedrowski. Also, survived by his brother Victor (Kathy) Kopacz of Wisconsin Rapids and two sisters Mary Bebel of Mendota Heights and Mariann (Ken) Scheuren of New Berlin. Brother-in-law: John Grabowski (Laurette) of Auburn, WA Sister-in-laws; Theresa Rita of Elgin, Josephine Roglaski of Crystal Falls, Agnes Langeberg of Wisconsin Rapids, Jan Grabowski of Rhinelander, Virginia Kopacz of Sheldon and Victoria Gray of Eau Claire. He is further survived by many nieces and nephews.
Henry is preceded in death by his parents, his wife Frances Kopacz, In-laws John & Mary Grabowski, Grandson Jason F. Greeno, and Brothers Fred Kopacz and Raymond Kopacz. Brothers-in-law John Rogalski, Charles Langeberg, Rich Bebel, Robert Rita, Roy Webster, Victor Gray, Tony Grabowski. And Sister-in-law; Marie Webster.
The family would like to thank the Aspirus Riverview for their care and support along with Hilltop Grand Village.