William T. Collopy

William T. Collopy, 88, of Battle Creek, Michigan, passed away on Monday, September 10, 2018. Known by Bill or Will, he was born on March 11, 1930. Bill grew up in Colorado, Nebraska and Arizona and graduated from The University of Nebraska with a BA in Fine Arts degree. He received a Master of Arts from the University of Wyoming and a Western Michigan Teaching Certificate.

Bill and his wife Marie settled in Battle Creek in 1952. He began by teaching elementary art at Ann J. Kellogg, moving to Northwestern Junior High School where he taught art and coached various sports teams. From there, Bill was hired to teach at Kellogg Community College. He was the Chairperson of the Fine Arts department for many years.

Over the course of his time as an educator at KCC, the art department grew from a small basement room to the Performing Arts Building as it is today. As a working artist, Bill created art, tile and sculpture projects that became part of the YMCA, KCC, and Willard Library.

Bill is survived by his wife of 67 years, Marie, his daughters Kathy Marks Palm Harbor, Fl, Barbara (John) O'Halloran, Seattle, WA, Patricia (Dave) Mullin, South Haven, MI, Teresa Crumpton, Kalamazoo, MI and Mary Collopy, Battle Creek; and his son Tom (Jeanette) Collopy of Cary, NC; his grandchildren Joshua and Sarah Brady (Steve), and Leah (Travis) Sleight, Maggie (Jeff) Stockwell, Patrick Crumpton (Caitlin), Nathan Crumpton, Diane (Josh) Collopy, Michelle Collopy, Nicholas Collopy, Patrick O'Halloran; four great-granddaughters Abbi, Ava, Addison and Aidan; a brother, Bernard J. Collopy M.D. of Phoenix, AZ; a sister, Eloy of AZ and many nieces and nephews.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Lydia and Joseph Collopy of Fort Collins, CO; his brothers, Patrick, Charles and Frank Collopy and a sister, Mary.

His life will be celebrated with a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Philip Catholic Church on Thursday, September 13, 2018 at 11:00 am. A visitation will be Wednesday, September 12 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with a Rosary service at 6:30 p.m. at the Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home & Cremation Care.

Instead of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to St. Philip Roof Restoration Project,

Personal messages for the family may be placed at www.farleyestesdowdle.com.