June Adel Goplerud

MASON CITY: June Adel Goplerud, 92, of Mason City, died Tuesday, December 3, 2013 at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit. A funeral mass will be held 10:30 AM, Monday, December 16, 2013 at Epiphany Parish Holy Family Catholic Church, 714 N. Adams. Interment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa- Mason City Leadership Center, 601 S. Illinois Avenue, Mason City, Iowa 50401 or Epiphany Parish Holy Family Catholic Church. June Adel Kunz Goplerud (Jan. 3,1921 – Dec. 3, 2013) was born and raised in Wesley, Iowa, graduated in 1939 from Derham Hall High School in St. Paul, Minnesota, and earned a degree in education in 1944 from the University of Wisconsin in Madison. She worked at the FBI in Miami, Florida, for two years before returning home. She met her husband, Harald F. (Bud) Goplerud, while summering in Clear Lake with her family. They married in 1947 and later moved to Mason City where they raised four children and remained deeply rooted in their beloved northern Iowa. After retirement, like many other 'snowbirds,' they wintered in Palm Desert, California, playing golf by day (June drove the cart) and dining and dancing by night. June often complemented Bud’s lead on the dance floor as they danced to their favorite tunes by Frank Sinatra and others from the big band era. June and Bud were happily married for 56 years. June had wide-ranging interests. She was a skilled pianist, was very interested in college sports (especially the NCAA basketball tournament), and was an avid reader and consumer of news and current events. She never shied away from a good political discussion with her children nor hesitated to break out the Chinese checker board and remind them that they had met their match. Over the years, she was an active member of the YWCA, the Holy Family Parish and a passionate volunteer for the North Iowa Girl Scout Council, serving as district chair and board member. She also was a valued board member of Camp Tanglefoot in Clear Lake. For her exceptional commitment, leadership and service, she was awarded the Thanks Badge I & II, the highest adult volunteer award in Girl Scouts. Preceded in death by her parents Julius and Marie Kunz, brother Julius Jr., sisters Maxine and Mary Adine, and husband Bud, June was a loving daughter, sister, wife and mother, a kind and loyal friend, always a lady, and for many who knew her a true northern star. She lived her life according to the teachings of the Catholic Church and the premise of the Girl Scout promise, 'God, Country, and Mankind.' She died peacefully after a brief illness surrounded by her family, who consider themselves honored and blessed to once, entirely, and always be known as hers. She is survived by her loving, fun family, including children Dena Goplerud (Thomas Zisko), Nann Goplerud (Ben Weaver), H.F. (Hal) Goplerud, Jr. (Wendy Wall), Julia Goplerud (Arland Hotchkiss, Jr.), grandchildren Elizabeth Ahrens (Adam), Leigh Zisko (Eric Nau), Patrick Zisko, Benjamin Goplerud Weaver, Brett Hotchkiss and Samuel Hotchkiss, andgreat granddaughter Allison Ahrens. They offer special thanks to the wonderful people who helped June live independently during her later years, including the staff at Kentucky Ridge Assisted Living and the caring professionals at Hospice of North Iowa.