Dennis W. Choplin

September 21, 1940 - April 28, 2021

Dennis Choplin, 80 of Kearney passed away Wednesday, April 28, 2021 peacefully at his home surrounded by his family. Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, May 5, 2021 at O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home in Kearney. Interment will follow at Kearney Cemetery. Visitation will be held 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the Avenue of Flags. Condolences may be shared online at www.osrfh.com. Services are entrusted to O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home. Dennis Wade Choplin was born September 21, 1940 in Yadkin County, North Carolina to Wesley and Irene (Adams) Choplin. Dennis went to a number of country schools and after moving to Winston-Salem, North Carolina, attended Gray High School. He volunteered for the draft at the age of 17. His first duty station was Fort Myer, Virginia, where he was a proud member of the President’s Honor Guard. He participated in President John F. Kennedy’s inauguration parade and his funeral. While stationed at Fort Myer, he met his future wife, Peggy Weidner, and they were married in 1961. They recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. To this union, three children were born, Michael Lynn, Denise Jean and Mark Allen. Dennis’ military career continued with him being stationed in Korea. He was also stationed twice in Germany and Fort Riley, Kansas and Duluth Air Base. He served a tour of duty in Vietnam. When asked how he wanted to be remembered, he stated as “A Soldier.” And that he was, a proud Soldier. Dennis retired from the Army in 1980 and continued his education at Central Community College earning his Associate Degree in HVAC. He was employed by the University of Nebraska at Kearney until his second retirement in 2002. Dennis was quite the handyman and there wasn’t anything he could not make or fix. He loved to tinker in his shop and trips to Menards. Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Peggy Choplin; daughter, Denise (Neil) Miller; son, Mark Choplin; grandchildren, Matt (Angie) Choplin, Hannah Keen, Alex Miller, Bryce Choplin, Makayla Choplin, Kevin Choplin, Claire Choplin, Scott Choplin, and Madison Choplin; great grandchildren, Kelsey Choplin and Tate Choplin; sister, Carol McDuffie; sister-in-law, Olivia Choplin, both of North Carolina. He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Michael Choplin; brothers, Joe and Charles Choplin.