White Funeral Home
400 First Street West
Independence, Iowa 50644

Independence – Paul G. Copenhaver, 72 years old, of Washington, D.C., formerly of Independence, Iowa, on Saturday, April 26, 2014, at Unique Residential Care Center in Washington, D.C., of complications of bladder cancer.  He was born on September 3, 1941, in Independence, Iowa, the son of Paul Kenneth (P.K.) and Myrtle Mildred (Motley) Copenhaver.  He attended Stanley Consolidated School and graduated from Oelwein High School in 1959.  He attended Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, (1959-1962) where he studied chemistry.  He completed a degree in liberal studies in 2000.  On July 7, 1962, he and the former Gayle Elaine Thom were married in Santa Rosa, California.

Mr. Copenhaver worked for Standard Oil of California, but returned to the Independence area in 1964 to farm.  He farmed for 32 years.

Mr. Copenhaver was a past elder at First Presbyterian Church in Independence, past board member and president of the Independence Community School Board, past soil district commissioner, past director of the NE Iowa Farm Business Association, and an Iowa Master Pork Producer.  He served in the Iowa House of Representatives from 1981-1985.  In 1987, he was named Iowa Master Farmer by Wallace’s Farmer.

Mr. Copenhaver is survived by 1 son, Steven (Amy) Copenhaver of Independence, 2 daughters, Ann (Mick) Fletcher of Iowa City, Iowa, and Sarah (Jay) Beaver of North Liberty, Iowa, 6 grandchildren, and 1 brother, Phillip (Beverly) Copenhaver of Independence.

He was preceded in death by his parents and an infant daughter, Laurie Lynn Copenhaver.

Private graveside services will be held at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Independence at a later date.  Memorials may be directed to the family.