Betty Jane (Koopman) Lunik

Betty Jane (Koopman) Lunik left her earthly body and was received into the arms of Jesus on July 19, 2021. She was born in Springfield on August 23, 1931, to Harry (H.H.) and Hattie (Meeks) Koopman. She was a younger sister to Edna (Koopman) Powers, who preceded her in death. Betty met her husband, Roy Caesar Lunik, in the church choir and they were married in 1952, before he deployed for Korea. Together, they raised four children, until his passing in 1994. She lost her mother, for whom she was the primary caregiver, the same year.

Betty would be the first to tell you her life was simple but abundantly blessed; faith and family were at the center. She spent many fulfilling hours cooking scrumptious meals, sewing clothes, managing the household budget, and helping kids with homework. Her pies and yeast rolls were beyond compare. She taught her children, by example, to pray in all circumstances, to use the gifts God gave them, to work hard, to give freely, and to be a light in the world. Betty was a sympathetic listener, a wise counselor, and a skilled comforter who believed in the power of forgiveness. She laughed easily and teared up when conversations or circumstances touched her heart, but she was not bashful about sharing her thoughts, particularly if she thought her words could make a positive difference.

With determination, a broad smile and a knack for numbers and office systems, Betty held diverse jobs throughout her life. She worked the cash register, stocked shelves and balanced the books at her parents’ grocery store. She was an operator for Illinois Bell Telephone and the first church secretary at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Springfield. She was a stay-at-home mom when her kids were small, returning to the work force in the ‘70s after brushing up on her shorthand and typing skills. She took an entry level job as a policy checker at Franklin Life Insurance Co. and retired from Franklin as an executive secretary.

After retirement, she served as the secretary for St. John’s Lutheran Preschool, a role she loved, which also allowed her to minister to children and teachers. She was a pink coat lady in the ICU waiting room at Memorial Medical Center, supporting families whose loved ones require critical care. In her seventies she became a Stephen Minister, focusing her outreach on bringing hope and help to seniors and shut-ins.

By her choice, Betty’s last years were lived at Concordia Village. Her family extends its heartfelt thanks to Concordia Village Care Center staff, whose gentleness and compassion, along with a good dose of humor, sustained her the last five years, even as her body failed her.

Betty will live on in the hearts of her children, Maurice (Anne) Lunik (Indianapolis, IN), Sue (Rev. Grant) Quever (Burlington, WI), Lori (Dr. Bill) Schlosser (Springfield), and Lynn (Michele) Lunik (Pontiac, MO), her grandchildren, Elizabeth Lunik, Andrew Lunik, Maria Lunik, Thomas Lunik, Joshua (Mallory) Quever, Zachary (Heather) Quever, Jacob Schlosser, Noah Schlosser, Ethan Lunik, and her great-grandchildren, Colton and Colette Quever, and Claira Quever.

A celebration of Betty’s life will take place Friday, July 30, 2021 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Springfield. Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m., with a service scheduled for 11 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. John’s Lutheran Church, 2477 W. Washington, Springfield, IL, 62702, or to the Concordia Village Christ Care Fund, 4101 W. Iles Ave., Springfield, IL 62711, supporting CV caregivers during times of personal crisis.

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