Kopf, Kathryn Erla Elsie Bruer

Kathryn Erla Elsie Bruer Kopf, a resident of Springfield Residence in Wyndmoor, Pa., died June 3, 2010, of natural causes. She was 85.

Kathryn was born June 24, 1924, in London, Ontario, Canada, to Pastor Martin Bruer and Olga Beger Bruer. She grew up in Port Huron, Ontario and Long Beach, Calif. She attended Long Beach City College for one year and then graduated with a B.S. from the University of California. She served as a food inspector with the Department of Agriculture for one year in California, and then worked for Union Electric in St. Louis, Mo., where she met her future husband, Warren. She married Warren John Kopf on May 28, 1948. He died in 1960 and she moved to Iowa City, Iowa, to earn her M.A. in family development and Ph.D. in educational psychology from the University of Iowa, as well as to be closer to her husband's family. She was a professor at the University of Iowa for several years before returning to Canada to join the faculty at Guelph University, where she was a department chair. Later, she returned to the United States to serve as executive director of Lutheran Church Women of America, based in Philadelphia, and remained in Philadelphia after her retirement.

Kathryn was a past member of Omicron Nu, Phi Upsilon, Pi Lamba Theta, and the Wodehouse Society. She was also a naturalized U.S. citizen, receiving her citizenship Oct. 7, 1963.

Kathryn was a lifelong Lutheran and a persistent champion of education and equal rights. She contributed freely to scholarships and charitable organizations. While helping others, she was also aware of those who helped her throughout her life. In particular she and her children were very appreciative of her husband's parents, Walter and Grace Kopf; siblings, Henry (Rachel) Kopf, Paul (Joanne) Kopf and Miriam (Bob) Bosch; and her mother, Olga Bruer, who helped her after her husband's death. Kathryn and her children were also very grateful to her good friend, Lois Leffler, for continued support during her last years of life.

Survivors include her children, Sandra (Kevin) Gleaves, Andrew (Karen) Kopf, Leslie (Anthony) Kopf-Johnson and Thomas (Jennie) Kopf; grandchildren, Brian (Emily), Trevor, Erika, Kristen, Austin and Morgan; a brother, Paul (Shirley) Bruer; and sister-in-law, Marlene Bruer.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Peter Bruer; sister, Margery Vadvilavich; and grandson, Eric.

Memorial gifts may be made to St. Michael's Lutheran Church, 6671 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19119.