Obituary of Michael Stephen Kopas, Jr.

Michael S. “Mike” Kopas Jr., passed away peacefully on January 27, 2026, at his home in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, surrounded by his loving family. He had shared 85 years of love, wisdom, and memories with family and friends.

Born in Morristown, Mike was raised in Denville, New Jersey to the late Marian and Michael Stephen Kopas, Sr. alongside his brother, Jack. He graduated from Bayley Ellard Catholic High School in Madison in 1958 before attending Delaware Valley College. He started working for the government before finding his niche in arboriculture. Mike was an arborist and co-founder (along with his brother, Jack) and president of Timberland Tree Experts in Towaco, New Jersey. He served as president of the New Jersey Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture and was also a past president of the Montville, New Jersey Rotary Club.

An avid athlete, Mike played baseball and basketball throughout his youth and continued in high school and college. He later gave back to his community by coaching youth baseball and basketball teams in Montville Township, New Jersey. In his later years, he enjoyed many rounds of golf and remained a loyal—and long-suffering—fan of Rutgers football.

Mike was always on the go, tinkering around the house or on his 1953 Willys CJ-3B Jeep. He could fix anything you put in front of him. Above all, he was a family man. He married the love of his life, Lois, on June 23, 1962. They moved to Towaco in 1970, where they grew into a family of six. Mike always worked hard to support his household, and managed to provide his family with many adventure-filled vacations, traveling by RV throughout the country. He and Lois also enjoyed spending time in their vacation home in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina before officially retiring there in 2020.

Michael’s legacy will live on in the hearts of his beloved wife of 63 years, Lois; his adored children, Susan (David) Weissman, Laura (the late Kevin) Mooney, Michael (Carla) Kopas, and Matthew (Deborah Jo) Kopas; his cherished grandchildren, Jeffrey, Lauren, Patrick, Steven, Alex, Andrew, Caroline, Ryan, and Meghan; his caring sister-in-law, Iris (the late Ben) Parr; and many dear nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

Although we are deeply saddened by his passing, we take comfort in knowing he is now reunited with his infant son Stephen, his parents, Marian and Michael Kopas Sr., his brother, Jack Kopas, his sister-in-law Mary Ann Kopas, his son-in-law Kevin Mooney, and his brother-in-law Ben Parr.

Memorial Visitation will take place on Friday, February 20th from 3 – 6 pm at Norman Dean Home for Services, 16 Righter Avenue, Denville, NJ. Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Saturday, February 21st at 10 am at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 15 Myers Avenue, Denville. Memorial Donations are being accepted in Mike’s memory to The Arbor Day Foundation by clicking here. If you would like to celebrate Michael in a different way, please leave a condolence, add a gesture, or share your favorite memory of Mike here to continue to celebrate his life and let his light shine on.

*If you are unable to attend Mass, you can watch it live through St. Mary's YouTube page, or by clicking here*