James Richard Copeland

James “Jim” Richard Copeland, 59, of Atwater, passed away Tuesday, December 20, 2022.

Services to celebrate Jim’s life will be planned in the summer.

Jim was born on March 1, 1963, in Warren, OH, to William and Dorothy (Seitsinger) Copeland.  He graduated from Lakeview Highschool in Cortland, OH, in 1981.  After graduation, he enlisted in the United States Navy.  Over the next six years, he would work as a ship defense systems and radar operator on the USS Mississippi, stationed in the Mediterranean. 

After being honorably discharged in 1987, he moved to Florida and spent time in Key West.  There, he met his first wife, Lisa Lima.  The two were wed in 1991 and moved to Pennsylvania that year.  They soon welcomed two children:  Jordyn and Tyler.   Jim held several odd jobs on the east coast and eventually began working as a route driver for Utz in Pennsylvania, a job he would have for over fifteen years.  In 1997, he and Lisa divorced.

On October 31, 2003, Jim married Linise (Ahl) Gaddy in Gettysburg, PA.  The two combined their families and he welcomed his new daughters, Janelle and Shauna as his own.  The family moved to Minnesota in 2005.  There, Jim took a job with Northstar/Revela Foods and worked there for 17 years.

Jim and Linise enjoyed many adventures traveling.  He especially loved going to Hershey Park for Father’s Day.  Jim would do anything for anyone and loved spending time with his children and grandchildren.  He was very caring and would send messages and call his loved ones to let them know he was thinking about them.  He had a unique sense of humor.

Jim loved watching WWE, “The Walking Dead”, “Yellowstone”, and was a Baltimore Ravens fanatic.  He loved spicy foods-nothing was too hot or ever hot enough.  He also loved spending time with his dogs and would send pictures of Patron, his Yorkie, to family.

Left to cherish Jim’s memory is his wife, Linise; his children: Jordyn (Nick Kangas) Copeland, Tyler Copeland, Janelle (Sammie Tadych) Gaddy, and Shauna (Jonathan Corell) Gaddy; his brother, Ron (Marlene) Copeland; his sisters: Betty Robbins and Rose Copeland; his grandchildren: Dakota Williams, Nolan Williams, Giavana Kangas, Kara Nonweiler, and Taylor Meyer; his mother-in-law, Louise Ahl; his sister-in-law, Julie Woltjer; his brother-in-law, Bill (Margaret Emberland) Ahl; many nieces and nephews; and his dog, Patron.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, William Copeland; and his four-legged friend, Roscoe.