Green Bay native served at Resurrection Parish, Allouez
ALLOUEZ — Deacon Donald “Don” Ropson, who marked his 20-year anniversary as a deacon on May 15, died on July 15 at age 76.
The Green Bay native attended St. Matthew School in Allouez and Premontre High School in Green Bay. Following high school, he attended the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
He and his wife, Peg (Schuch), were married on Sept. 20, 1980. They became members of Resurrection Parish in Allouez that year.
Deacon Ropson was active at the parish on several committees, as an extraordinary minister of holy Communion and as a lector.
He said that his call to the diaconate traced back to 1992 during a prayerful time following a death in his family. Deacon Ropson was accepted into candidacy in 1999. He was ordained to the diaconate for the Diocese of Green Bay on May 15, 2004.
Deacon Ropson was appointed a deacon at Resurrection Parish, where he served until his retirement in January 2023.
As a deacon, he guided numerous couples in marriage preparation, made home visits and performed weddings, baptisms and funerals. He also participated along with fellow deacons in two mission trips to the diocesan mission in the Dominican Republic. He also served as chaplain for Knights of Columbus Father Claude Allouez Council #10714 for many years.
Deacon Ropson’s volunteer efforts also included participation in several Habitat for Humanity builds.
In his free time, he enjoyed golf and travel with Peg, fish fries with family and hunting. He began playing softball during childhood and played on baseball teams as an adult. He and Peg also shared a love for dogs.
Deacon Ropson is survived by his wife, Peg; a brother, Mike (Laine); sisters, Sue Brickson (Chris) and Mary Gilson; sisters-in-law, Pat Jankowski (Ted), Deb Buckman (Pat), Mary Birtzer (Steve), Kathy Koehler (Jeff), Jean Gustafson (Jim) and Teresa Schroeder (Rick); a brother-in-law, Bill Schuch (Cathy); and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ethel and Cy Ropson; parents-in-law, Ed and Erma Schuch; nephew, Tom Brickson; and niece, Laura Birtzer.
The funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, July 23, at Resurrection Church, 333 Hilltop Drive, Allouez.