Hundreds attend memorial for Dundee Township aquatic manager

Timothy M. “Tim” Kopka will be remembered as a man who brought his fun-loving personality to his job. And that’s a plus when you oversee the operation of public pools.

Kopka, 45, died Sunday of an aortic aneurysm. He was the Dundee Township Park District’s aquatics manager the past four years.

Park District Executive Director Tom Mammoser said Kopka Tim was a great role model for the younger staff members. He had previously worked for other big water parks and brought his experience with him. “He was able to positively impact the staff,” Mammoser said.

The park district held a memorial service for him on Thursday. More than 400 people attended. “Tim was a very caring and fun-loving man and he carried that over into his job,” Mammoser said. “He loved to laugh and he loved to share that.”

Kopka married Judith L. “Judy” Spenny in 1988. They’ve lived in the Carpentersville area for six years. Kopka also leaves behind a son, Josh.

Other survivors are his parents, the Rev. Gustav and Nancy J. (nee Roso) Kopka, and his siblings, the Rev. Paul (Pei) Kopka, Stephen (Wendy) Kopka and Ann (Davis) Ryan.

Contributions can be made to the Joshua Kopka Educational Fund, P.O. Box 56, Dundee, IL 60118.