Harold O. Hoppe, Lt. Colonel, USAF (Retired)
October 18, 1920 – April 22, 1992

Harold Osa “Hal” Hoppe, 71, Kansas City, Kan., formerly of Alexandria, Neb., and a direct descendant of early New Bremen settler Christian Hoppe, died April 22 in a Kansas City hospital. The funeral was April 26 at University Congregational Church, Wichita, Kan.

Surviving are his wife, Alta; a son, Harold, Honolulu, Hawaii; a daughter, Karen Crook, Darby, Kan.; five grandchildren, and two sisters, Virginia Brinegar, Burley, Idaho, and Myrtle Christiansen, Boise, Idaho. Mr. Hoppe is also survived by several cousins who live in the Lowville area.

A native of San Antonio, Texas, Mr. Hoppe grew up in Alexandria, Neb. He was a direct descendant of Christian Hoppe, an early settler of New Bremen.

Mr. Hoppe served in the Air Force for 33 years. He was commissioned and received his wings April 23, 1942. During World War II, he served with the 5th Bomb Group in the South Pacific. After the war he joined the reserves and was recalled to active duty during the Korean War. Mr. Hoppe also served in the Strategic Air Command in a variety of jobs. He commanded a helicopter rescue detachment in Vietnam. He retired from the Air Force in 1973 at the rank of lieutenant colonel.

Since his retirement, he and his wife had owned the Benton Airport in Kansas City at different times. In the intervening years, Mr. Hoppe returned to college and earned his bachelor of arts degree in English in 1985 from Wichita State University, at the age of 66.

Burial information: Riverside National Cemetery, Riverside, CA

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Lt. Col. Hoppe served a Vietnam War tour as a HH-43F pilot with Det. 9, 38th ARRS in the 1967-1968-time frame.