Obituary of Marjorie Virginia Hyer Lopeman
Marjorie (Marge) Virginia Hyer Lopeman was born December 19, 1926, in Quincy, Illinois. She passed peacefully on January 18, 2023, in Portland, Oregon at the age of 96.
Marjorie grew up in Quincy, Illinois in a lovely home with beautiful gardens. She graduated from Quincy High School and went to Culver Stockton College. While attending the University of Illinois in Champagne she majored in education and joined the Chi Omega sorority. After teaching in Douglas County, she moved to Hebron in 1949 and lived in the home of Loretta Baron along with fellow single teachers including Martha (Edwards) Tibbitts who became a lifelong friend.
In 1952, the young teacher accompanied other Hebron citizens as the school’s basketball team played in the first-ever televised Illinois State Basketball Championship. The Hebron Giants were victorious over Marge’s hometown team the Quincy Blue Devils. Several of those team members attended her 90th birthday party in Hebron and remained close to "Miss Hyer" until her death.
Marge married John Cole Lopeman (a dear friend of Wally Tibbitts) in 1952 and had 3 children.
Marge was the first, and at the time only, woman to be a member of the Hebron State Bank Board. She also served as the Village of Hebron Clerk for years and later as Township Clerk after her retirement. Her career as a middle/high school teacher and later a substitute teacher/tutor spanned 30 years and included teaching several generations of families.
When the children were young, she sewed many of their clothes, played bridge on weekends, enjoyed some snowmobiling, boating, along with many summer days of water skiing. In later years Marge’s interests grew to include swimming (which she learned after age 50) and golfing (until she was in her late 80’s). There were many cross-country trips to visit and celebrate children, grandchildren, and other beloved family members in Florida, Texas, California, Ohio, Oregon, Arizona, and Massachusetts. She also enjoyed the adventure of 2 international trips with friends.
Marge was a longtime member of the Hebron Service Club, on the board and a volunteer with the Hebron Public Library, was a board member and active in the Hebron United Methodist Church. She helped to establish the Hebron Food Pantry, serving as a longtime volunteer.
She moved to Russellville Park Retirement Community in Portland, Oregon at age 91 to be close to her daughter, Linda. While there she made many new friends, played bridge, attended exercise classes, and was active in Community Service. She was beloved by fellow residents and staff.
Marge is preceded in death by her mother and father Marguerite and Roy Hyer, her brother and sister-in-law, Don and Ruth Hyer.
She is survived by daughters, Nancy (Lopeman) Dudenhoefer, and Linda Lopeman, and son, Michael Lopeman (Shelly). She was an aunt to Steve (Lynne) Hyer and Cathy (Rich) Warner. She was grandmother to Kelsey and Justin Dudenhoefer, Taylor and Erica Lopeman, and step-grandmother to Jenna and Lauren McGregor.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Hebron Public Library, 9908 St. Albans St., Hebron, IL 60034, or the Hebron Food Pantry, 10206 Seaman Road, Hebron, IL 60034.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Marjorie Lopeman, please visit Tribute Store
Crown Memorial Centers specialize in Oregon Funeral, Burial, Cremation, Memorial Planning, Services and Arrangements
Serving Portland and Metropolitan communities including: Aloha, Aurora, Beavercreek, Beaverton, Boring, Canby, Clackamas, Donald, Downtown Portland, Eagle Creek, Estacada, Gladstone, Gresham, Happy Valley, Hillsboro, Hubbard, King City, Lake Oswego, McMinnville, Milwaukie, Molalla, Mt. Angel, Mulino, Newberg, Oregon City, Sandy, Sherwood, Silverton, Tigard, Tualatin, Vancouver WA, West Linn, Wilsonville and Woodburn.
In Salem and surrounding communities of: Albany, Brooks, Corvallis, Dallas, Detroit, Gervais, Independence, Jefferson, Keizer, Lebanon, Mill City, Monmouth, Scio, Stayton, Sublimity and Sweet Home.
