Peggy Choplin
Peggy Choplin, age 79, of Kearney, passed away Friday, August 20, 2021, peacefully at her home surrounded by her family. A funeral mass was held Wednesday, August 25, 2021, at St. James Catholic Church in Kearney. Interment followed at Kearney Cemetery.
Memorials are suggested to St. James Catholic Church or the Kearney Area Animal Shelter. Condolences may be shared online at www.osrfh. com. Services are entrusted to O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home.
Margaret Louise (Peggy Lou) Choplin was born November 22, 1941, at home in Dawson County to Orville John “Chub” and Nellie “Jean” (Shears) Weidner. She graduated from Sumner High School in 1959 and Personnel Training Institute in Omaha. After graduation, she moved to Washington, D.C., where she worked as a secretary for the Central Intelligence Agency. On March 13, 1961, she married Dennis Choplin, who was in the U.S. Army stationed at Fort Myer, Virginia. Three children were born to this union, Michael Lynn, Denise Jean, and Mark Allen.
Being a military family, they lived in Virginia, North Carolina, Kansas, Germany, Minnesota, and Nebraska during her husband’s military career. She worked as a secretary in various places during their travels, retiring after working 27 years at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney.
Peggy was a member of St. James Catholic Church, St. James Women’s Bible Study Group, Magnificat, and a volunteer server at funeral dinners. She was a Life Member of the Custer Battlefield Historical and Museum Association, and the Crazy Horse Grass Roots Club. She had a great interest in Indian history, particularly the Lakota Sioux. Her greatest joy in life were her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She loved animals, especially dogs, cats, and horses. Peggy was proud to be an army wife and always made the most of where they lived. She also enjoyed her Friday coffee with her dear friends Pam Miller and Laraine Neu.
Left to cherish her memory are her daughter, Denise (Neil) Miller, of Kearney; son, Mark Choplin, of Shelton; grandchildren, Matthew (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; sisters, Maris (Dave) Bentley, of Plattsmouth, Kay Payton, of Hot Springs, South Dakota, Lou Ann (Dave) Tuzson, of Livermore, Colorado; her sister-in-law, Peggy Weidner, of Gillette, Wyoming; and several nieces and nephews, and extended family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband Dennis in April 2021; her son Michael in 2004; her brother Gary in 2018; her parents; and her beloved dog, Princess.