Edmund T. "Eddie" Cops

Edmund (Eddie) Theodore Cops, from Tampa Florida, (originally from Oshkosh/Appleton/Holland), age 92, passed away peacefully on Friday, July 23, 2021. He was born to the late Edmund and Theodora (Geitman) Cops on March 26, 1929. He was one of eleven children. Eddie was born in Nijmegen, Holland, and moved to America at the age of 19. He owned a neighborhood grocery store and drove a milk truck in the 1950’s, he was a Realtor in the 1960’s (earning Realtor of the Year twice!), and owned a Mobile Home Park in the 1970’s before retiring. On May 14, 1955, Eddie married his beautiful and loving wife, Beverly Joyce (Pryne) Cops at St. Mary Catholic Church in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and recently celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary!

They were blessed with 4 wonderful daughters; Patty Correll-Hickey (Fred), Diana Hielsberg, Gail Nowland (Jay), and Judy Oder (Robert), all from the Tampa Bay Area in Florida. Eddie cherished his 9 Grandchildren; Michelle Campbell-Correll (Sherie’), Christopher Mayhall (Kelly), Jennifer Bielema (Bret), Matthew Hielsberg, Krystal Nowland, Chiffon Smith (Joel), Shallyn Mende (Sam), Brittany Spence (Roy), and Devin Oder. He also treasured his 8 Great-Grandchildren; Anderson, Addison, Blake, Wyatt, Briella, Brexli, Dayla, Dove, plus 2 more due in November. Eddie is survived by his wife Beverly. He has 4 living Siblings; Margie Young, Fr. Gus Cops, Jerry Cops (Bernice) and Henry Cops (Joyce), along with numerous nieces and nephews. He is further survived by his brother-in-law Ken Pryne and 4 nieces.

Eddie was preceded in death by his parents Edmund and Theodora (Gietman) Cops, and sisters and brothers-in-law; Nelly and Mart Van Nuland, Mary and Peter (Bill) Havinga, Annie and Ken Schuh, Dorothy and Joseph Van Nuland, Josie and John Vincent, Paul Young, Bernice Pryne and brother, Fr. Peter Cops. Also, Evert and Elsie (Reeck) Pryne.

In lieu of flowers, please give a donation to your favorite charity. The family would like to extend their sincere thanks to the caring staff from Hospice. We appreciate their help and kindness.

There will be a Viewing and Celebration of Life at Blount and Curry Funeral Home in Tampa on Monday, July 26, 2021 from 5:00-7:00pm.

The family would like to invite you to come celebrate Eddie’s life with a Funeral Mass at St Mary Catholic Church, 312 S State St., Appleton, on Friday, July 30, 2021 at 11:00am. The viewing will be before the Mass from 9:00-11:00am. Livestream of the Mass will be available at 11:00am via wichmannfuneralhomes.com through Eddie’s obituary page. A luncheon will follow at Pullman’s At Trolley Square in Appleton at 12:30pm. After the luncheon Eddie will be taken to his final resting place at Lake View Memorial Park Cemetery Mausoleum in Oshkosh.

Eddie was a kind and gentle man who touched the lives of everyone coming in contact with him. He always put the needs of others before his own. Please come share your stories, have some lunch, and remember Eddie, the man we all loved, but some of us were lucky enough to call him Husband, Dad or Grandpa.