Mike Sopher
Mike Sopher
Mike Sopher
October 29, 1952 – January 29, 2020
Helena, Missouri (Oskaloosa, IA) | Age 67
(Joseph) Michael Sopher, 67, of Helena, Missouri, died Wednesday, January 29, 2020, at the Gower Convalescent Center in Gower, Missouri. He was born October 29, 1952, in Oskaloosa, Iowa, the son of Karl and Nivale TerLouw Sopher.
Mike graduated from Oskaloosa High School with the class of 1971.
Following high school, he joined his father in the family business Sopher Construction, building bridges. In 1972, he joined the Iowa Army National Guard. In 1974, he started traveling, operating heavy equipment doing bridge and highway work in a 15-state area. After many years of traveling, he decided to bring his heavy equipment operating talents closer to home and did soil conservation work for many area farmers. He was a talented equipment operator for over fifty years, with a special skill for being efficient with any crane.
In February of 1977, he was united in marriage to Cathy Menninga. To this union three daughters were born, Johanna, Amanda “Amy”, and Laura. Cathy and Mike divorced in 1986.
Mike was an active member of the East Side Baptist Church in St. Joseph, Missouri. He enjoyed woodworking, shooting sports, collecting guns, and in his youth, he enjoyed hunting. He was an avid Iowa Hawkeye fan and looked forward to attending Iowa sporting events with his family.
His family includes his three daughters, Johanna (& Wade) Puyear of rural Tracy, Amanda “Amy” Coachman of Aliso Viejo, California, and Laura (& Daniel) Eilers of Marshalltown; six grandchildren: Kayana, Brandon, J.J., Isabelle, Olivia, and Edison; two brothers and their wives, Jeff (& Carol) Sopher of New Market, Missouri and John (& Anne) Sopher of Coralville; a half-sister, Lori Stenstrom of Henry, Illinois; and many nieces and nephews.
Mike was preceded in death by his parents.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, February 5, 2020 at 10:30 a.m. in the Bates Funeral Chapel with Pastor Jon Denney officiating.
Graveside Military Honors will be given by members of the Oskaloosa American Legion and V.F.W.
Burial will be in the Bloomfield Cemetery east of Oskaloosa. The Bates Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.
Visitation will begin Tuesday, February 4, 2020, after 12 noon in the Bates Funeral Chapel and the family will be at the funeral chapel from 5-7 Tuesday evening to greet friends and relatives.
Memorials may be made to the Michael Sopher Memorial Fund which will go to Freudenthal Hospice, East Side Baptist Church and the American Cancer Society.
To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Mike Sopher please visit the Bates Funeral Chapel Sympathy Store.
