Catherine Ann Joppa, 85, beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully on February 8, 2025.
Cathy was born in Gooding, Idaho, on August 30, 1939, to Anabel Clementine (Horsman) Osborn and Ralph Ransom Osborn. Anabel and Ralph were both teachers; the family later moved to Sidney, Montana where Cathy attended high school and met her future husband at a basketball game. Leonard was the new assistant agronomist at the local extension office.
Cathy and Leonard married in June of 1959 and welcomed children, Teresa and William (Bill) while living in Sidney. The family moved to Bozeman so Leonard could continue his post-college education, and daughter Barbara was born there. In 1967 the family moved to Fargo and daughter Margaret arrived a couple years later.
Cathy was a wonderful mom to her four children. She enjoyed living in a north Fargo neighborhood where there were many young families with lots of kids. She ran a daycare for many years, was an Avon lady, and was a Girl Scout leader. She loved arts, crafts, sewing and cooking. In the tradition of the late 1960's/early 1970's, she was a homemaker who fed her kids Kool-Aid, Jello, TV dinners and popsicles, and if you didn't like what she cooked for dinner, tough!
Cathy was a member of a number of organizations including the NDSU Women's Club, PTA, Plymouth Congregational Church, a gourmet dinner club, and various Farmer's Markets where she sold her jams, jellies, hot sauces and pickles along with her wildly colored quilted table runners. Cathy will be remembered by most for her unique sense of humor.
Cathy was honored in 2001 for being a Girl Scout for over 50 Years. She loved girl scout cookies. Later in life she would order cases of cookies to give away to her friends and caregivers at her senior living center or at her doctors' offices.
She was very proud of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and bragged about them whenever she could.
Cathy is survived by her children, Teresa (Richard) Norwig of Moorhead, MN, Bill (Lori) Joppa of Rochester, MN, Barbara Joppa (Eric Rowe) of Motueka, New Zealand, Margaret Joppa of Auckland, New Zealand, son in law Darin Grenz of Christchurch NZ, and grandchildren: Michael (Erin) Joppa, parents to great grandchildren Theodore and Samuel Joppa, of Rochester, MN, Stephanie Joppa (engaged to Cooper Watts) of New Haven, CT, Lydia Norwig of Lakewood, CO, Melissa (Jacob) Dahl of River Falls, WI, and her brother Greg (Carol) Osborn of Eugene, OR, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her dear husband of 63 years, Leonard R. Joppa, her parents, and a younger brother, David Osborn.
The family wishes to thank Cathy's kind and dedicated caregivers at both Eventide Fargo and the Linden in Moorhead, as well as Hospice of the RRV.
Arrangements entrusted to the care of Boulger Funeral Home. A memorial service will be held in the spring of 2025. An interment at the Fargo National Cemetery will follow the service.
Memorials should be given to your local Girl Scout troop or your favorite charity.