Carpentersville man remembered as ‘a modern take on the Renaissance man’

77-year-old was active member of Crystal Lake Camera Club where his bird photography won many awards

Remembered as “a modern take on the Renaissance man,” Norman Kopp of Carpentersville died last week from complications related to COVID-19.

Kopp, 77, spent most of his life working with computers, “his partner for life” Sandra Wittman said in a letter memorializing him. But his life was far more varied and diverse than that.

At one time, he ran the second largest goat farm in Arizona. He also once owned Cats, a specialty cat-themed gift shop in Evanston.

Kopp served with the Illinois National Guard at the beginning of the Vietnam War and later taught computer programming at Oakton Community College. After retirement, he became a regular at Elgin Community College, earning his associate degree, then taking all the available classes in the graphic arts department, as well as a couple of history or political science classes each semester.

A collector of Ernest Hemingway first editions, Kopp combined his admiration for the author and his love of travel with many trips to Spain, where he and Wittman attended bullfights and through a friend were able to be part of “an outer fringe of the remaining Hemingway circle in Madrid.”

They also traveled to Iceland, France, Italy, England and the 50 United States.

Kopp also was a stamp collector, admirer of Native American culture and art, was interested in genealogy, involved in the Single Action Shooting Society cowboy shooting and building N gauge model railroads.

In the last part of his life, his interests centered on travel, photography and birding. He was active in the Crystal Lake Camera Club where his bird photography won many awards. His bird photography can be seen online at normkopp.smugmug.com.

In her letter, Wittman said “Norm made friends wherever he went. He was bright, funny, generous, caring and always interesting. His reserve of facts, especially about history, was amazing. He always supported me in everything I did.”

Because of the pandemic, no funeral will be held. Donations may be given to Kane County Audubon, 513 S. 13th Ave., St. Charles, IL 60174. To leave an online condolence, visit millerfuneralhomedundee.com.