Diane "Dee Dee" Kopka

Diane “Dee Dee” Kopka, age 73, of Marine on St. Croix, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on March 17, 2025, surrounded by the love of her family.

Born on May 30, 1951, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Dee Dee was the daughter of Maurice and Martha (Gilbertson) Forsman. She grew up in Minneapolis and graduated from Roosevelt High School with the Class of 1969. After several years of dating, she married the love of her life, Kenneth Kopka, on October 2, 1976. Together, they built a life filled with love, laughter, and countless cherished memories, raising their family in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota.

More than anything, Dee Dee’s greatest joy was being a mother. She embraced every adventure with her children, creating simple yet lasting moments that they will treasure forever. In 1998, she and Kenny moved to the shores of Big Marine Lake, where she found peace watching the sun set over the water each evening.

Dee Dee was a light in the lives of everyone who knew her—kind, witty, and always ready with a quick comeback. She had a gift for making people feel heard and valued, an amazing listener and an even better friend. She found joy in life’s little things: the color green, music, frogs, and trips to Target. She loved gardening, putting together puzzles, and singing along to her favorite Toby Keith songs. In her final years, she felt a special connection to him as they faced the same battle with cancer. His music brought her strength, comfort, and a sense of camaraderie.

She is reunited in heaven with her parents; her sister, Cheryl French; her brothers, Raymond and Ronald Forsman; her brother-in-law, Bob Harvey; and her beloved fur baby, Forbes.

She is deeply missed and lovingly remembered by her husband, Kenny; her children, Melissa (Mike) Stukel, Grant Kopka, and Theresa (Michael DeLaCruz) Kopka; her cherished fur babies, Toby, Louie, Willy; her siblings, Sharon Harvey, Ralph Forsman, Robert (Sue) Forsman, and Lynette (Jim) Dahl; her sisters-in-law, Sandy Forsman and Donna Forsman; and many other dear family members and friends.

A memorial service will be held at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, March 31, 2025, at Mattson Funeral Home, 343 North Shore Drive, Forest Lake. Family and friends are invited to gather one hour prior to the service. A reception will follow as we celebrate Dee Dee’s beautiful life and the love she shared with all of us.

Though she is no longer with us, her kindness, laughter, and love will live on in the hearts of all who knew her—forever playing in the melodies of her favorite songs.