1961
Laura
2015
Laura Koppenhoefer
October 5, 1961 — November 30, 2015
Laura Koppenhoefer, 54, of Rock Island, IL, died Monday, November 30, 2015, at Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House, Bettendorf, IA.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. with a breakfast from 8 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. on Saturday, December 5, 2015, at St. John's Lutheran Church, 4501 7th Avenue, Rock Island, IL. Visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m. Friday, December 4, 2015, at Esterdahl Mortuary & Crematory, Ltd., 6601 38th Avenue, Moline. A graveside service will be at 1:30 p.m. at East Lawn Memorial Gardens in Bloomington, IL.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the University of Iowa Foundation designated to Sarcoma Research, ELCA World Hunger, or to the ELCA Malaria Project. Because Laura had been touched by sharing ministry with these Lutheran church families, memorials may also be made to: Lord of Life Lutheran, Asbury, IA; First Lutheran, Pontiac, IL; St. John's Lutheran, (Emerson St.) Bloomington, IL; St. Paul's Lutheran, Warren, IL; Trinity Lutheran, Moline, IL; St. John's Lutheran Church, Rock Island, IL; First Lutheran Church, Rock Island, IL; and St. James Lutheran Church, Rock Island, IL.
Laura was born on October 5, 1961, in Pontiac, IL, the daughter of David and Marion Davis Harding. She married Rodney Koppenhoefer on July 20, 1985, in Bloomington, IL, and he preceded her in death on November 5, 2004.
Laura was a nurse at BroMenn Regional Medical Center in Normal, IL, and then earned her Master's degree from Oregon Health and Science University. She taught nursing at Illinois Wesleyan University. She earned a Master of Divinity from Wartburg Seminary and became an ordained Lutheran Pastor in 2003. Laura served as pastor for Trinity Lutheran Church from 2003 until 2012. Laura continued her ministry and founded the Living in Hope Foundation. She wrote a book called Notes on the Journey: Living with Sarcoma & Hope. She raised nearly $24,000 for Sarcoma Research. Laura enjoyed quilting, gardening, and reading.
Survivors include her daughters, Erica Koppenhoefer and Sarah Koppenhoefer; parents, David and Marion Harding, Pontiac, IL; brother, Dr. Eric (Katherine) Harding, New Albany, MS; many nieces and nephews.
The family would like to send a special thank you to Dr. Mo and his team at the University of Iowa as well as Penny Logan and all of the mat carriers.
Memories may be shared online by visiting esterdahl.com.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. with a breakfast from 8 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. on Saturday, December 5, 2015, at St. John's Lutheran Church, 4501 7th Avenue, Rock Island, IL. Visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m. Friday, December 4, 2015, at Esterdahl Mortuary & Crematory, Ltd., 6601 38th Avenue, Moline. A graveside service will be at 1:30 p.m. at East Lawn Memorial Gardens in Bloomington, IL.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the University of Iowa Foundation designated to Sarcoma Research, ELCA World Hunger, or to the ELCA Malaria Project. Because Laura had been touched by sharing ministry with these Lutheran church families, memorials may also be made to: Lord of Life Lutheran, Asbury, IA; First Lutheran, Pontiac, IL; St. John's Lutheran, (Emerson St.) Bloomington, IL; St. Paul's Lutheran, Warren, IL; Trinity Lutheran, Moline, IL; St. John's Lutheran Church, Rock Island, IL; First Lutheran Church, Rock Island, IL; and St. James Lutheran Church, Rock Island, IL.
Laura was born on October 5, 1961, in Pontiac, IL, the daughter of David and Marion Davis Harding. She married Rodney Koppenhoefer on July 20, 1985, in Bloomington, IL, and he preceded her in death on November 5, 2004.
Laura was a nurse at BroMenn Regional Medical Center in Normal, IL, and then earned her Master's degree from Oregon Health and Science University. She taught nursing at Illinois Wesleyan University. She earned a Master of Divinity from Wartburg Seminary and became an ordained Lutheran Pastor in 2003. Laura served as pastor for Trinity Lutheran Church from 2003 until 2012. Laura continued her ministry and founded the Living in Hope Foundation. She wrote a book called Notes on the Journey: Living with Sarcoma & Hope. She raised nearly $24,000 for Sarcoma Research. Laura enjoyed quilting, gardening, and reading.
Survivors include her daughters, Erica Koppenhoefer and Sarah Koppenhoefer; parents, David and Marion Harding, Pontiac, IL; brother, Dr. Eric (Katherine) Harding, New Albany, MS; many nieces and nephews.
The family would like to send a special thank you to Dr. Mo and his team at the University of Iowa as well as Penny Logan and all of the mat carriers.
Memories may be shared online by visiting esterdahl.com.
Visitation Details
Friday, December 4th, 2015, 3:00pm - 7:00pm, Esterdahl Mortuary & Crematory
Service Details
Saturday, December 5th, 2015, 10:00am, St. Johns Lutheran Church
To send flowers to the family in memory of Laura Koppenhoefer, please visit our flower store.