Carol J. Kopplin

Carol June Kopplin, age 87, of Merrill, passed away peacefully on Monday, February 10, 2025 at her home, while surrounded by her loving family and under the care of Interim Hospice. She was born on April 3, 1937 to the late Harvey and Eldora (Harder) Woller in Wausau, WI. Carol attended and graduated from Merrill High School. She met her soul mate and best friend, Donald Kopplin, and the two were united in marriage on June 11, 1960 in the town of Berlin. He survives.

Carol worked at Fromm Brothers and then Marathon Electric, until they started having children, and she was blessed to be able to stay home and take care of the home and the kids. Carol and Donald started the original Hwy. 51 Truck Stop, and eventually, re-built it where it stands today. She was an excellent homemaker, wife and mother, and the family enjoyed going to their cottage on Squaw Lake to relax, swim, and fish. Carol looked forward to fishing and spending quiet time enjoying nature or reading a book or two. She would spend time in her gardens, as well as playing with her beloved dogs, especially her Pomeranians. Carol also enjoyed her kitty, Mittens, very much. Later in life, when Carol and Donald were retired, they enjoyed taking trips together to the Wittenburg casino, as well as other casinos, including Las Vegas. Carol is remembered as a loving wife, mother and grandmother, who was full of spunk and was a strong-willed, independent woman. She will be sadly missed, but never forgotten.

Carol leaves behind her loving husband of 64 years: Donald Kopplin, son: Todd Kopplin, with his children: Steven and Nicole (with her son: Cayden), daughters: Peggy (David) Knoop, with their children: Heather (with her children: Zuri and Atlee) and Brandon (Heather) (with their daughter: Audrinna) and Sara (John) Riebe, with their children: Elizabeth (Joe) Hammel (with their daughters: Nora and Claire) and Courtney (Andy) Mahn (with their children: Evan and Callan) and son: Kevin (Jolene) Kopplin (with their children: Samantha (Peyton) Crosse, Lance, Addison and Mitchell). She is further survived by her sister: Joann Utecht and brothers-in-law: Elden (Shirley) Kopplin and Larry (Nancy) Kopplin, along with many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents: Harvey and Eldora Woller, step-father: Paul Krumrei, mother and father -in-law: Harold and Clarice (Brandt) Kopplin, brother and sister-in-law: Vernon (Ethel) Woller, sister and brother-in-law: Mavis (Wilbert) Voelz and brother-in-law: Charles Utecht.

A burial will take place at a later date in the Bethany Cemetery in Irma, WI.

Taylor-Stine-Waid Funeral & Cremation of Merrill is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences are encouraged and may be made at www.taylorstinewaid.com.