1988-2026
Heidi Kay Kopaska, 38, passed away on Oct. 30, 2026, at New Hope Village in Carroll, surrounded by her loving family.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, at the United Methodist Church in Bayard with Pastor Carolyn Schwartz officiating. Casket bearers will be Kelly Kopaska Jr., Jacob Kopaska, Jared Kopaska, Codi Willenborg, Brody Schlepp and Peyton Clipperton. Honorary casket bearers will be Kade Schlepp and Trevor Goetzinger. Burial will be in Highland Cemetery near Bayard.
Visitation will be held at the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Coon Rapids from 5-7 p.m. on Tuesday. The casket will be moved to the United Methodist Church in Bayard at 9:30 a.m. where visitation will resume until 10:15 a.m. prior to the service.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Coon Rapids, and online condolences may be left for the family at www.dahnandwoodhouse.com
If you knew Heidi, you knew her smile. From the time she was little, she had a way of lighting up every room she walked into. The oldest of four children, Heidi grew up on a farm south of Bayard, surrounded by family. Much of her childhood was spent with the people she loved most, whether at home with her parents and brothers, at her “Mamo and Papa’s,” or making memories with her many aunts and cousins. She was always getting into mischief with her brothers, dressing them up for her “shows,” swimming in the river or pool, and spending as much time outdoors as she could. Family was always at the center of Heidi’s world, and she was fortunate to grow up with so many people who loved her.
Heidi was spunky, happy, bubbly and rarely one to go unnoticed. She loved being the center of attention and had a way of making sure she was. She was full of life, full of laughter and could be quite ornery when the mood struck her. She had a big personality and an even bigger presence. Those who knew her growing up have plenty of memories of the fun, spirited girl she was.
As Heidi got older, she continued to be the social butterfly everyone knew and loved. She enjoyed being involved in activities, making friends and being around people. She had a genuine love for life and for the people in it. During her high school years at Coon Rapids-Bayard, Heidi was involved in a car accident that resulted in a traumatic brain injury and forever changed the course of her life. Heidi fought hard for her life and survived against the odds.
The accident took so much from Heidi. It took her voice and many of the physical capabilities she once had, but it left the radiant person she was always known to be. She went on to graduate from Carroll High School, attend prom and make many friendships and memories during those years. Though life looked very different than anyone had imagined it would, Heidi’s story was far from over.
Heidi made her home at New Hope Village in Carroll, where she built lasting relationships, found joy in everyday moments and became part of an extended family.
It is difficult to put into words just how many lives Heidi touched during her time at New Hope. Her joy was genuine, and her smile was magnetic. She had a way of making people feel connected to her. The number of people who came to know and love Heidi is a testament to the remarkable impact one person can have without ever needing to say a word.
Heidi’s life was not measured by the abilities she lost or the challenges she faced. It was measured by the people who loved her, the friendships she made, the smiles she brought to others, and the countless lives she touched simply by being herself. She reminded those around her that connection goes far beyond words and that a person’s ability to make a difference in the lives of others has very little to do with what they can or cannot do. Heidi was loved in a way that is difficult to describe, and she leaves behind more people who will miss her than she could ever have imagined.
Heidi was preceded in death by her mother, Kris Kopaska; her grandfather, Elmer Kopaska; and her grandmother, Karen Kennedy.
Those left to cherish her memory include her father, Kelly Kopaska (Tonya); her brothers, Kelly Jr. (Kayla), Jared (Anna) and Jacob (Maria); her grandparents, Linda Kopaska and Mark Kennedy; along with her many aunts, cousins, nieces and nephews, and the countless friends, caregivers and members of her New Hope family who were fortunate enough to know and love her.
Heidi’s presence will be deeply missed, not only by the family who loved her from the very beginning, but by the many people who became part of her life along the way. She was a daughter, a sister, an aunt, a granddaughter, a friend and a light in the lives of so many. There will never be another Heidi, and the world is a little less bright without her in it.