Daniel Brockopp

PORTAGE, WISCONSIN --- The Rev. Daniel Carl Brockopp, age 81, died in Portage, Wisconsin on Friday, January 1, 2016 after a brief illness.
He is survived by his wife, Leona (Mau). They were married on May 18, 2008. Dan is further survived by a sister, Darlene (Rev. Ted) Krueger of Portage, WI; two brothers, Rev. Roy (Ruth) Brockopp of St. Louis, MO and Gene (Dorothy) Brockopp of Lexington, KY; and a sister-in-law, Marilyn Brockopp of Neshkoro, WI. He is further survived by nieces, nephews, colleagues, former students and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, the Rev William and Martha (Baumann) Brockopp.

Daniel was born September 7, 1934 in Glidden, Wisconsin. He was baptized and confirmed by his father at Trinity Lutheran Church in Glidden, WI. By the age of nine, Dan had become an accomplished organist. His talents enriched the worship two or even three times each Sunday as he traveled with his father to the congregations his father served as pastor. The love of music and devotion to precision remained with him throughout his life. After graduation from high school, Dan attended Concordia College, River Forest, IL where he earned a B.S. in education. He graduated from Concordia Theological Seminary in Springfield, IL with the degree of Bachelor of Theology. Upon graduation, Dan taught Theology at Concordia Theological Seminary in Springfield. He earned the Master of Sacred Theology degree at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago.

Pastor Brockopp was ordained into the Holy Ministry of the Lutheran Church on June 12, 1962, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Villa Park, Illinois. In 1964, Professor Brockopp began his career at Valparaiso University (Indiana); a career that would span 35 years. During that time, Pastor Brockopp provided spiritual guidance to students and staff at the University. He was appointed to the Department of Theology at the University and immediately began part-time work in the Chapel of the Resurrection, serving in several positions during his tenure. He held the position of University Pastor and Dean of the Chapel from 1984-'98. He continued to teach in the Department of Theology until May 1999, when he retired from the Valparaiso University faculty.

Upon his retirement, the Valparaiso University Board of Directors bestowed the title of University Pastor Emeritus upon Rev. Brockopp. At that time, University President Alan F. Harre acknowledged Dan's lengthy and effective service. "For those of us who have joined our lives to VU since Dean Brockopp has been the University Pastor and Dean of the Chapel, we may have some difficulty imagining what the ministry and service of the Chapel of the Resurrection will become without his presence, pastoral heart, aesthetic sensitivities, concern about ritual and form, and attention to details."

Dan retired to Portage, WI in 1999 to be nearer to his sister and her husband. There he taught Bible classes at St. John's Lutheran Church and provided counsel on liturgical theology to the pastoral staff. He and Leona enjoyed traveling to Door County and to England.

The funeral service will be held on Saturday, January 9 at 11:00 AM at Luther Memorial Church, 1021 University Ave, Madison, WI. Visitation at the church will begin at 10:00 AM and will continue at a luncheon following the service. The committal service will take place at Saint Luke Cemetery, 5300 N. Pulaski Road, Chicago, Ill on Monday, January 11 at 1:00 PM.
Memorial contributions may be directed to Valparaiso University, the Lutheran Deaconess Association or a charity of one's choice.

Cress Funeral & Cremation Service
3610 Speedway Road, Madison
608-238-3434