Jerome Robert Koupal

Jerome Robert Koupal, age 90, died August 26th in East Lansing, Michigan. “Jerry” was born in 1933 in Oak Park, Illinois to the late Robert Jerome and May Bradley (Pierce) Koupal. His boyhood was spent in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago, where trips to the Museum and Science & Industry launched a lifelong fascination with all things mechanical, starting with his first job in the local hardware store at age 12. While in high school his family relocated to Tucson, Arizona. where he attended Tucson High, followed by the University of Arizona. At the U of A, Jerry met the love of his life, wife Geraldine “Gerry” Nordmeyer Koupal in a chemistry class, and they married in 1955. Jerry graduated with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the U of A in 1956, followed with a Master’s ME from Arizona State a few years later. Jerry was a member of the Tau Beta Pi Engineering, Pi Mu Epsilon Mathematics, and Phi Kappa Phi Scholastic Honoraria. After working as an Engineer at AiResearch in Phoenix, Jerry took a job that became a 30-year career with Bechtel Power Corporation in San Francisco in 1964, as a Mechanical and Nuclear Engineer and Manager. His expertise in power plant design was sought worldwide. In 1973 Jerry and family moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan where they settled and grew roots. Additional work stops included Milan, Italy and Gaithersburg, Maryland, building on their network of lifelong Bechtel friends. Upon retirement in 1994, Jerry and Gerry moved back to Ann Arbor, then later to East Lansing in 2015.

Through his work and together in retirement, Jerry and Gerry traveled extensively through Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and the U.S., enjoying new adventures, epic sights, and local food. The Koupals were active as members of St. Andrew Catholic Church in Saline, St. Thomas Aquinas Church in East Lansing, and Travis Pointe Country Club in Ann Arbor. In retirement Jerry volunteered to oversee construction projects, served on the board of his HOA, and volunteered every election as a poll watcher. He loved his family, and attended numerous sporting events, band concerts, county fairs, and art shows involving his grandchildren. He loved dogs and over the years had several retrievers at home. He had a great sense of humor, appreciating a good joke with a booming laugh.

Jerry is survived by his wife of 69 years, Gerry, his three children Katherine (Gordon) Oesterle of Mason, MI, Kenneth (Katherine Chase) of Northville, MI and John (Tammy Lafler) of Ann Arbor. He is survived by grandchildren Matthew, David, April, Andrew, Sarah, Miles and Boone, along with great-grandchildren Ben, Aaron, Eli, Samuel, Hailey, Lydia, Joanna, and Grant.

On Friday September 6th, a visitation (10:00am), followed by a Mass (11:00 am) and luncheon will be held at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 955 Alton Road, East Lansing, Michigan. In lieu of flowers, we ask you consider a donation to the Michigan Humane Society.