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Johan Devold Koppernaes
December 22, 1930 - October 9, 2015
Johan Devold Koppernaes – passed away peacefully on October 9th, 2015 in
Bedford, N.S.
Born December 22, 1930 in Alesund, Norway he emigrated to North America
after completing his military service . Arriving by boat in Halifax, working as a deck
hand for fellow ex-pat Karl Karlson, Johan entered Dalhousie University,
studying Physics. Within weeks, he met second year pharmacy student, Barbara
Joan Longley. They were married in 1953.
Johan graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1955 from the Nova
Scotia Technical College. He and his new family moved to Boston where he
completed his Masters at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1956.
Their first child Karen, was born while he was completing his studies in Halifax.
His first position was with ALCAN in Arvida PQ, where his second child, Johan A.,
was born. Deciding the corporate world was not for him, he returned to Norway to
help out with the family business. Interested in fiberglass, he
became involved in producing motorboats and fishing rods. Their third child Stein was born in Norway. Christian was born while
in Halifax where Johan had a position at Nova Scotia Technical College
teaching Thermo Dynamics. He founded Koppernaes Engineering Ltd. In 1965,when
Erik the youngest child, was born. The business grew quickly, settling in the
Koppernaes building in Bedford. In 1972 the family built their home at the end of
Shore Drive, known as “The Point”.
His area of practice was designing fish processing and cold storage plants all
over the world. Locally, he performed major design work at fish plants
and Farmers Dairy. In the mid-1980s, he revisited the idea of continuous
production of fiberglass and advanced composites by a technique called
“pultrusion”. He founded his start-up composites research and development
company (American Composite Technology) in Boston MA in order to be near
MIT where he established a working relationship with professors and
graduates as well as consulting professors from Stanford, Drexel and University
of Lowell. In order to bring the technology to Atlantic Canada he founded a sister
company GCT (General Composite Technology) with a working relationship to
TUNS. In the last few years he was involved a Halifax to Boston ferry project.
His greatest love was for family. He wanted nothing more than to see his family
happily launched. The “camp” in Hubbards, sailing on the C&C 35, Rumble
Mumble Goose Egg, and sitting around the piano were golden times. He is
celebrated for his wonderful sense of humour, his flare for storytelling, and
support for his family. He was an accomplished artist working in any media
within reach. He could sculpt, paint and draw. His ability to free sketch
complex designs and ideas in seconds amazed
clients, employees and grandchildren alike. He was particularly fond of producing
comical works of caricature, especially of himself.
A natural athlete, he excelled at gymnastics, skating skiing, and sailing. The love
of sailing and boating was passed onto his family and for years “Rumble
Mumble” was a force to be reckoned with.
He is survived by his wife of 62 yrs, Barbara; his children, Karen, Johan (Michelle), Stein,
Christian (Robin) and Erik; his grandchildren, Maia von Maltzahn (Sam), Alex and Anna vonMaltzahn, Julia and Johan “JoJo” Koppernaes , Sean
Koppernaes, Leif, Finn and Drummond Koppernaes, Meghan and Adam
Henneberry and Hanna Koppernaes; sister Inger-Margretha Casperson; nieces
and nephews.
He was predeceased by his brother, Hans Peter; sister, Astrid Jarlsby;
Grandson, Michael Devold Koppernaes. Special thanks and
appreciation to Betty Campbell, who was a friend and executive assistant
throughout his life. Thanks to Ivany Place, Dr Carver and Dar Seward for
his care. Cremation has taken place. A celebration of life will take place at a later
date at BBYC. Visitation Saturday Oct 17, 1-3 pm at Atlantic Funeral Home,125
Sackville Dr. for those who wish to pay their respects, In lieu of flowers,
charitable donations may be made to the Alzheimers Society or to Michaels’
Legacy at gofundme.com.
Bedford, N.S.
Born December 22, 1930 in Alesund, Norway he emigrated to North America
after completing his military service . Arriving by boat in Halifax, working as a deck
hand for fellow ex-pat Karl Karlson, Johan entered Dalhousie University,
studying Physics. Within weeks, he met second year pharmacy student, Barbara
Joan Longley. They were married in 1953.
Johan graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1955 from the Nova
Scotia Technical College. He and his new family moved to Boston where he
completed his Masters at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1956.
Their first child Karen, was born while he was completing his studies in Halifax.
His first position was with ALCAN in Arvida PQ, where his second child, Johan A.,
was born. Deciding the corporate world was not for him, he returned to Norway to
help out with the family business. Interested in fiberglass, he
became involved in producing motorboats and fishing rods. Their third child Stein was born in Norway. Christian was born while
in Halifax where Johan had a position at Nova Scotia Technical College
teaching Thermo Dynamics. He founded Koppernaes Engineering Ltd. In 1965,when
Erik the youngest child, was born. The business grew quickly, settling in the
Koppernaes building in Bedford. In 1972 the family built their home at the end of
Shore Drive, known as “The Point”.
His area of practice was designing fish processing and cold storage plants all
over the world. Locally, he performed major design work at fish plants
and Farmers Dairy. In the mid-1980s, he revisited the idea of continuous
production of fiberglass and advanced composites by a technique called
“pultrusion”. He founded his start-up composites research and development
company (American Composite Technology) in Boston MA in order to be near
MIT where he established a working relationship with professors and
graduates as well as consulting professors from Stanford, Drexel and University
of Lowell. In order to bring the technology to Atlantic Canada he founded a sister
company GCT (General Composite Technology) with a working relationship to
TUNS. In the last few years he was involved a Halifax to Boston ferry project.
His greatest love was for family. He wanted nothing more than to see his family
happily launched. The “camp” in Hubbards, sailing on the C&C 35, Rumble
Mumble Goose Egg, and sitting around the piano were golden times. He is
celebrated for his wonderful sense of humour, his flare for storytelling, and
support for his family. He was an accomplished artist working in any media
within reach. He could sculpt, paint and draw. His ability to free sketch
complex designs and ideas in seconds amazed
clients, employees and grandchildren alike. He was particularly fond of producing
comical works of caricature, especially of himself.
A natural athlete, he excelled at gymnastics, skating skiing, and sailing. The love
of sailing and boating was passed onto his family and for years “Rumble
Mumble” was a force to be reckoned with.
He is survived by his wife of 62 yrs, Barbara; his children, Karen, Johan (Michelle), Stein,
Christian (Robin) and Erik; his grandchildren, Maia von Maltzahn (Sam), Alex and Anna vonMaltzahn, Julia and Johan “JoJo” Koppernaes , Sean
Koppernaes, Leif, Finn and Drummond Koppernaes, Meghan and Adam
Henneberry and Hanna Koppernaes; sister Inger-Margretha Casperson; nieces
and nephews.
He was predeceased by his brother, Hans Peter; sister, Astrid Jarlsby;
Grandson, Michael Devold Koppernaes. Special thanks and
appreciation to Betty Campbell, who was a friend and executive assistant
throughout his life. Thanks to Ivany Place, Dr Carver and Dar Seward for
his care. Cremation has taken place. A celebration of life will take place at a later
date at BBYC. Visitation Saturday Oct 17, 1-3 pm at Atlantic Funeral Home,125
Sackville Dr. for those who wish to pay their respects, In lieu of flowers,
charitable donations may be made to the Alzheimers Society or to Michaels’
Legacy at gofundme.com.