James "Jim" Hopson

James Drake “Jim” Hopson, 84, of Butler, died Saturday, December 3, 2016, at St. John's Specialty Care in Mars.

Born January 19, 1932 in Phillipsburg, KS, he was a son of the late Cornelius Drake Hopson and Edna Drake Hopson.

Jim graduated from Phillipsburg High School with a football scholarship for Kansas State, where he received his Masters Degree in Animal Husbandry and Animal Nutrition. He had worked for Spang and Company Research Farm and was then Self-employed with the Red Barn Equipment Company.

He was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Mars, where he was an elder, the American Legion Post #778 in Lyndora, the Penn Township Veterans Association, was director and past president of the Big Butler Fair, was captain of the mounted Sheriff's Posse, was known for his dancing horse captain in Butler Parades, was a charter member of the Penn-Glade Lions Club and was past District Governor in 1986-1987, and was a Boy Scout Leader and on the Board of Eagle Scout review.

His hobbies included horses, reading, wood working and in later years carving and painting and helping to bake ginger bread houses for his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

A veteran of the Korean War, Jim served in the United States Army.

Surviving is his wife, Davena G. Hopson, whom he married April 3, 2009.

1 daughter, Susan (Marlin) Smith.

1 daughter-in-law, Vickie Hopson.

2 stepdaughters: Gretchen (Joe) Baysek and Aimee (Mark) Whitehouse.

1 stepson, Joseph (Christine) Nalepa.

Grandchildren: Jaime (Herbert) Wood, Kristina (Charles) Norgren, Kimberly Campbell, Garrett (Amanda) Smith, Devin Smith and Nicole Smith.

Step grandchildren: Joshua Klein, Aaron Nalepa, Zachary Nalepa, Jullian Wolfe, Gabrielle Baysek and Timothy Wolfe.

5 Great grandchildren: Victoria, Cayton, Shyla, Jasper and Drake.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, James D. Hopson, Jr.; a brother, Harry Hopson and a sister, Geraldine Francis.

Friends will be received at the Geibel Funeral Home, 201 East Cunningham Street, Butler, from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Wednesday. Funeral Services will be held of Thursday, at 10:00 a.m., at the Funeral Home. Pastor Bob Zimmerman, will officiate. Internment will follow in Greenlawn Burial Estates, Mount Chestnut.

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