Alvin "Hoppy" R. Hopkins

Alvin Ray Hopkins, known to many as Hoppy, was born June 18, 1939 in Neligh, Nebraska to George Allen Hopkins & Thelma Gertrude (LaBorde) Hopkins. He passed peacefully to his heavenly home on July 1, 2024 at the Premier Estates Care Center in Kenesaw at the age of 85 years old. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, July 26, 2024 at Bethany Lutheran Church in Minden with Rev Donald Hunzeker & PMA Julie Schmidt officiating. The service will be streamed to the church’s YouTube page. Interment with military honors will be held following the service at Minden Cemetery. There will be no visitation. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the family for later designation. Condolences may be sent to the family at 507 N Tower Ave, Minden, NE 68959. The youngest of five, he spent his younger years helping with the family business Hopkins Produce in Neligh & racing cars around town. He graduated from Neligh High School in 1957 & served his country in the US Army Artillery as a missile crewman from 1963 to 1965 at the Pershing Missile Base, Germany & was honorably discharged. He then served in the US Army Reserves until 1969. While hot rodding around the Minden, NE area, he met Nadine Anne Mathiasen & they wed on May 16, 1970 at Bethany Lutheran Church. Hoppy worked for many years as a carpenter, building two of the family homes & renovating many more. He worked at the Minden Beef Company for many years until its closing. During this time, they welcomed Anthony G & Angela Marie to the family. He went on to work as a maintenance mechanic for Eaton Manufacturing in Kearney for over 18 years, retiring in 2004. Hoppy enjoyed working on older vehicles & could tell you almost any information about them. He took great pride & detail on his woodworking items, gun cabinets, trophy case & helping his kids out. His retirement included restoring a 1953 Ford F100 pickup, completing many honey dos for his family & welcoming granddaughter Violet Jane. Hoppy & Nadine traveled to many car shows with the “Bing Cherry Ford” & belonged to the Central Nebraska Auto Club for 10 years. He volunteered at the Classic Car Collection in Kearney, NE & enjoyed sharing stories with those who visited the collection. Hoppy was a long-time member of Bethany Lutheran Church in Minden where he made many of the wooden cradles for the church’s cradle roll & was an American Legion member for 58 years. Those left to cherish in their memories of Hoppy are his wife of 54 years, Nadine; son, daughter in law & granddaughter, Anthony, Rebecca & Violet Hopkins; daughter & son in law Angie & Clint Spaulding plus many nieces & nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, George & Thelma; his siblings & their spouses, William & Bonnie Hopkins, Barbara & Dean Hughes, Lois & William Sprout, Robert & Marilyn Hopkins; his in-laws Gordon & Margaret Mathiasen. Tributes and memories can be shared with the family at www.craigfunerals.com.

Alvin "Hoppy" R. Hopkins

June 18, 1939 - July 1, 2024