Edith Marie (Edie) Hopper, 63, of Eagle River passed away Thursday, April 21, 2016, at PortagePointe in
Hancock.
She was born April 3, 1953, in Pontiac, Michigan, the daughter of Leon J. and Thelma (Covert) Cobb.
When she was 11 years old Edie became a brittle Type I juvenile diabetic. She graduated in the Class of
’71 Lake Orion High School and briefly attended Mercy School of Nursing in Detroit.
She married Charles Ray (Charlie) Hopper in December of 1972. Charlie’s family doctor at that time
predicted that Edie might only live to age 35 because of her severe diabetes.
Edie worked with her husband, in Detroit area radio in the early 70’s, earning her Third Class FCC license.
They moved to Marquette in 1975 to manage the former WDMJ, under the new ID of WHWL. Moving in
1977 to Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Edie embraced the role of housewife and home-school teacher for their
two children. In summer months the family worked at Gitche Gumee Bible Camp in Eagle River, to
which they finally moved in 1988 (when she was 35).
Edie served as head housekeeper for Gitche Gumee until she had to retire in 1997, as diabetic
complications began to appear. She overcame the disease by keeping physically active, balancing diet
and insulin, and prayer. Edie was a true believer in the “new birth into a living hope through the
resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead”. She served as Chaplain for the Onagamingkway Chapter of
the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). She represented DAR at numerous ROTC and JROTC
award ceremonies. Charlie and Edie became lifetime members of both Keweenaw County and
Houghton County Historical Societies. She loved to research her family geneology. In 2008, again
collaborating with her husband, Edie took on a new role of historical researcher for Pasty Central’s “Day
in History”. In 2013 vascular problems returned, along with numerous surgeries, and eventually death,
almost three decades beyond the earlier predictions.
Surviving are her husband, daughter Becky Howard of Logan, Utah, son Jonathan (Dr. Katriina) Hopper
of Eagle River/Houghton, granddaughters Kira and Kit Howard of Logan, Utah, and Ellie Hopper of
Houghton, as well as her mother, brothers, aunts and uncles and numerous cousins. She was preceeded
in death by her father in October 2015.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, April 24, at 2 pm at the Gitche Gumee Tabernacle in Eagle River, with
the memorial service to follow at 3 pm. Burial will be in the Houghton Township Evergreen Cemetery.
In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, the family encourages donations to Beacon House, 1301 N 3rd
St, Marquette, MI 49855, or at upbeaconhouse.org.
The Erickson-Crowley-Peterson Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Friends may sign Edie’s guest book or send condolences to ericksoncrowley.com
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Edith Marie Hopper (Cobb), please visit our
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