Dr. Eugene D. Koplitz
April 30, 1926 –September 05, 2017
Age
Residence: Greeley, CO

Eugene D. Koplitz died September 5, 2017 in Greeley,
Colorado. He was born April 30th, 1926 in rural Withee, Wisconsin
to Henry and Lillian (Chase) Koplitz at home on the dairy farm.
Growing up on a farm, children were expected to help with
necessary tasks. Every member of the family had duties; which
developed a “work ethic” and “responsible behavior”. For eight
years, Gene walked 2 miles to attend and graduate from the one
room Oak Vale School, where his mother had taught.

Following 8th grade graduation, his education continued at
Withee High School where he participated in forensics (oratory,
debate, and drama), played clarinet in band, and sang tenor in
chorus. His annual competitions brought him various awards for
his solos. Sports participation was frequently interrupted by farm
responsibilities. He considered himself as “the most inept
member on the basketball team.” The camaraderie among team
members kept his spirits up. They understood.

After graduation he took advantage of the University of
Wisconsin-Madison correspondence courses and completed the
two Composition requirements. He then joined the Wisconsin
National Guard in Eau Claire including the two-week intensive
summer camp at Ft. McCoy.

The following fall, farm help was available so he began at
Wisconsin State College, now the University of Wisconsin – Eau
Claire, where he received his Bachelor of Science degree and
teacher certification in English, History, and Speech. He accepted
a contract at Barron Senior High School, Barron, Wisconsin for
two years as a teacher and advisor for the junior class, taught all
grade levels in oral speech and speech composition and Director
of class plays. He reflected many times on the wonderful
students, faculty, and parents.

Following his military stint on duty in the Wisconsin National
Guard, he entered the Army. He was sent to The Artillery School of
Command, Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, where he was trained as a Ballistic
Meteorology Instructor and retained as a faculty member.
Eugene met his wife of 64 years, Peggy Theiler, in an
American History course. Following their two-and-a-half year
engagement, they married in Humbird, Wisconsin on June 25,
1953. They lived on base in Lawton, Oklahoma that summer and
she returned to Wauwatosa, Wisconsin to fulfill her teaching
contract. After two years at the Artillery School of Command, he
was discharged on June 11, 1954 and enrolled in graduate level
Psychology courses at the University of Wisconsin – Madison.
Peggy completed her Masters degree in English at University
of Wisconsin – Madison, while Gene continued his graduate
program, Peggy taught four years in Madison.

In June of 1955, Gene received a Master of Science degree in
Counseling from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. The
graduation ceremony included the honorary degree hooding of
Frank Lloyd Wright. The speaker was “Cheaper by the Dozen”
Elizabeth Gilbreth, famous time and motion engineer and mother
in the biographical play that had been performed at Barron Senior
High School with Gene as Director.

In 1955 he started his Ph. D. at the University of Wisconsin –
Madison. He was awarded both a doctoral teaching and research
assistantship and spent three years at the Laboratory for the
Intellectually Superior Students studying problem solving
strategies, which later served as the focus for his doctoral
dissertation. While at Wisconsin, he assisted Drs. Carl Rogers,
Klausmirer, E.H. Edgerton, and John Rathney, which prepared him
for his higher education faculty and administrative positions.
In August of 1958, with Ph. D. in hand, he accepted the
position of Professor of Counseling and Guidance at Colorado
State College, Greeley (now University of Northern Colorado). As a
tenured professor, he responded to challenges in addition to a full
teaching load.

The first challenges occurred in February 1959 involving
leadership with the Honors Program. As Associate Dean, he
expanded the program to 19 departments. In 1960 he was
selected as Director of a Summer Institute in Guidance and
Counseling conducted under the National Defense Education Act.
Throughout the 1960’s he participated in the Rocky Mountain Area
Small Schools Project; research funded by the Ford Foundation.
Elected to the Faculty Senate, he also served as chairman. Early in
his career, he was granted a sabbatical as a visiting scholar at
Harvard.

Throughout his professional career, Dr. Koplitz presented
research papers at international, regional, state, and local levels.
His teaching responsibilities ranged from undergraduate to
graduate levels. He served as academic and research advisor to
Master and Doctoral degree candidates. Former students now
hold key positions in academia throughout the U.S.A. and
internationally including Taiwan, Libya, Greece, East Pakistan
(Bangladesh), New Zealand, and Tazmania. He enjoyed
cross-cultural teaching exchanges in California, England, and
other global speaking engagements at the invitation of his former
international students.

Professional memberships include the American
Psychological Association, American Personnel and Guidance
Association (President Division 4) and Editorial Board Member of
the Journal, Colorado Education Association, Colorado Counselor
Association and American Association of University Professors.
He collaborated with his graduate students and published
professional papers on new psychological findings. He was the
editor for the text Guidance in the Elementary School: Theory,
Research and Practice which was used in guidance programs
across the country.

In June 1988 he retired from the University of Northern
Colorado as Professor Emeritus of Psychology. However, he
continued teaching and consulting for CSAP at various United
States Air Force Bases.

Community involvement included Chancel Choir of the First
Congregational Church of Greeley, University Men’s Glee Club,
Chamber Orchestra Choir, Social Science Circle, Eta Phi fraternity,
Kiwanis Club, UNC Emeritus Faculty Association, and Friends of
the UNC Libraries, and as an active participant, he took leadership
in the development of the Greeley Retiree Academic Study
Program (GRASP), which met at the Senior Activity Center.
Devotion to family, quest of the unknown through research,
worldwide travel and commitment to ideals characterized his life,
along with gratification in guiding students to achieve academic
insight.

Immediate family survivors include his wife of 64 years
Peggy, son David and his wife Michelle, daughter Dr. Stephanie
Koplitz-Harty, and the five Harty grandchildren. Other survivors
include his only niece, Sheila Koplitz, and her mother Mrs. Harold
Koplitz, and his deceased brother Lester’s three sons. A daughter,
Pamela, preceded him in death as well as two brothers, a sister,
and a nephew.

Memorial services will be held at the First Congregational
Church in Greeley, Colorado, on Friday, September 22, 2017 at
2:00 p.m. . Memorial gifts may be given to TRU Hospice of
Northern Colorado, or to the Eugene D. Koplitz Honors Foundation
– which awards scholarships to Honor Students to be utilized in
their academic research programs.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Eugene DeVere Koplitz, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.