Donald Copeland

Donald Joe Copeland, 65, of Cape Girardeau died Saturday, April 11, 2015, at John J. Pershing VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Missouri.

He was born July 31, 1949, in Corona, California, to Henry and Oma Eudy Copeland.

He and Patricia J. Upchurch were married May 14, 1977, in Cape Girardeau.

Copeland retired from the U.S. Air Force as an agent for the Office of Special Investigation in 1989. He later was a police officer and detective for the Perryville, Missouri, Police Deptment.

Donald loved to fish and garden. The joy of his life was his granddaughter, Alena Grace.

Survivors include his wife, Patricia J. Copeland of Cape Girardeau; daughter, Trisha Copeland of Cape Girardeau; granddaughter, Alena Grace Copeland; two brothers, David (Sue) Copeland of Chaffee, Missouri, and Danny (Juanita) Copeland of Jackson; and one sister, Donna (Sam) Cook of Jefferson City, Missouri.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Henry Copeland.

Graveside service will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield, with the Rev. Donny Ford officiating, and with full military honors by the Missouri Honors Team.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be given to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or The Cancer Institute at Saint Francis Medical Center.

Online condolences may be made at fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.

Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.