Robert Kopicko

Robert Joseph Kopicko (Bob) passed away peacefully on April 10, 2026, at the notable age of 98. He was born in Detroit on December 20, 1927, to John and Frances (Sobolewski) Kopicko.

He married his beloved Mollie (2021) in 1953, and they enjoyed 67 years together, including 52 years on Lochdale Street in Dearborn Heights.  Loving father of Ann Marie, Kathleen (deceased), Rob, Mary Beth (Tony) Robinson, Christopher (Loo), Bill, and Maureen (Doug) Arbour.

Cherished grandfather of Chehallis, Bethany, Michael, Caelin, Kerrie, Ethan, Joshua, Jacob, Jessie (Logan), and Grace.  Dear brother of Leonard (deceased) and Delores (deceased).

He was a longtime parishioner of St. Sabina Church in Dearborn Heights, where he served as an usher, sang in the choir, and helped out at the annual church festival. He and Mollie were also part of the parish’s Perpetual Adoration devotion, from 3 am – 4 am once a week for numerous years.

Bob worked more than 30 years as an industrial engineer at Chrysler. Though busy with work and serving at the church, he found time to devote to his children.  He coached his kids in baseball and softball for many Little League seasons.  He would spend innumerable hours over multiple days each winter creating large ice rinks in the backyard, which provided endless hours of ice skating fun. 

Bob was a man devoted to his faith and his family.  His love was constant, and he generously gave of his time, dropping what he was doing at a moment’s notice to help any family members with projects large or small.  He and Mollie supported all the kids and grandkids by attending and proudly cheering them on at countless events each year, from athletic events, to musical performances, to Eagle Scout presentations, to high school and college graduations.  Known for a hearty “Hello, Hello, Hello” when he’d enter the front door after work, he shared his faith, ethics, and hard-working ethos with his kids.  His family was impacted deeply by his love, devotion, compassion, and wisdom.  He had a quirky sense of humor that would unfailingly crack himself up, and he had a mantra of maxims, including age-old favorites that someone “looked guilty as sin,” “if you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all,” and regularly espousing the value of wearing multiple layers when temperatures drop because “you can always take it off.”   He could really Cut a Rug when the Polka bands performed at the Polish parish’s annual festival, and he enjoyed a cold beer on the back porch in the summer while listening to Ernie Harwell descriptively calling Tigers games.  His green thumb and artistic touch also garnered beautification awards from the city.

Bob also enjoyed teaming up with Mollie and friends in the church bowling league.  And Bob lived and shared his faith, making sure to find a Catholic Mass on Sundays wherever the family vacationed.

Bob will be missed, but will live on in our fond memories.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.