Claude J Coppersmith

Lifespan: 1907-04-16 — 1987-04-08

Summary

Born in Dyckesville, Brown County, Wisconsin to Frank Joseph Coppersmith and Odile Clemens Barette. Married Marie Ellen Bodoh on June 22, 1926 in Green Bay. They had six children: four sons (Leonard, Ronald, Roger, Robert) and two daughters (Dorothy, Florence).

Was an executive at one of the paper companies during his career (per family oral history). Developed Huntington’s disease — severe signs by the late 1970s. The disease affected his mood and movement. The family wintered near Benson, Arizona in later years.

Died April 8, 1987 in Benson, Arizona at age 79. Buried at Allouez Catholic Cemetery and Chapel Mausoleum in Green Bay — body brought back to Wisconsin.

Lived on Point Comfort, Nicolet Drive, Green Bay area with Marie. From the memoir: “Great-Grandpa Claude was difficult and unpredictable and the adults seemed careful around him in a way they weren’t around anyone else.”

Relationships

• Parents: Frank Joseph Coppersmith & Odile Clemens Barette
• Spouse: Marie Ellen Bodoh (m. 1926-06-22, Green Bay)
• Children: Dorothy Elaine Coppersmith, Leonard Coppersmith, Ronald “Ronnie” Coppersmith, Roger H. Coppersmith, Robert Coppersmith, Florence (Coppersmith) Challe

Sources

• FamilySearch person record (birth, marriage, death, burial details).
• Children’s obituaries (Roger 2018, Florence 2020) confirm parentage and children.
• Memoir chapters: “Great-Grandma Coppersmith,” “The Oregon Trip.”

Research Notes

• Death date discrepancy: earlier file had 1987-06-01; FamilySearch says 1987-04-08. FamilySearch indexes from death certificates — likely more reliable.
• Dyckesville birthplace suggests the Coppersmith family roots are in that community (east of Green Bay, Belgian/Catholic settlement area).
• Paper company executive claim unverified — “I don’t know if that’s true given the shack of a house on Point Comfort” (memoir).
• Huntington’s is hereditary (autosomal dominant) — relevant to Dorothy’s later diagnosis.