Robert M. Copeland

Robert Michael Dominic Copeland was born May 30, 1949, and passed peacefully on November 28, 2024, in his bed in the beautiful house he built.

He is survived by his loving wife, Emily (Schmieder); daughters: Sara and Renée (PJ); grandson, Dominic (Julia), who was named after him; and great-granddaughter, Azalea Violet, whom he held with a kindred smile these past few months. He was preceded in death by his parents: Annita and Bill; sister, Mary; and eldest grandson, Anthony.

Bob was born in Ohio and raised in sunny Sarasota, Florida, with his sisters Judy, Mary, and Connie. He graduated from Lake Forest College with a major in English and Philosophy. A true pacifist at heart, he achieved conscientious objector status and worked as a counselor, ordained minister, advocate of prisoners’ rights, and editor of the Prisoners International Digest newspaper in prisons rather than participate in the Vietnam War.

 After some heavy years of service, he found healing in the hard yet rewarding work of organic farming, first in Iowa and then in Wiscoy Valley, as a founding member of an intentional land-cooperative, fondly referred to as "the Farm" in 1975. His activism expressed itself foremost in the powerful and subtle ways he lived his life (perhaps one of the lowest carbon footprints among us) and extended into many impassioned editorials in The North Country Anvil, as well as a stint in a performance art group called Sub-Atomic Dance Theater. He dedicated many years in different roles for Bluff Country Co-op and retired from Prairie Moon Nursery.

Bob was known as a great neighbor and very caring community and family member, always willing to help where there was need. His benevolent voice carried his precise words and broad heart, making many weddings glow with integrity as he officiated ceremonies for community and family members over the years. A daily devotee of yoga, lover of music, film buff, avid reader, prodigious poet and punster, and grooviest dancer at any gathering, his spirit would shine amidst creative people and events, playing music every Tuesday night with a group of improvising musician friends, getting into adventures cooked up by his life partner, and humming to himself as he cared for the land in the valley he called home. Bob spent his last birthday in the homeland of his grandfather on a “trip of a lifetime” to Sicilia.

A larger celebration of life will occur during his next birthday season in Wiscoy Valley Land Co-operative (date TBD), where everyone can share stories, bask in the sun, swim in the pond he loved, and dance to the playlists he carefully curated over all the years of joy and togetherness.

Immediate respects can be paid online at https://www.watkowski-mulyck.com/obituaries/robert-copeland and at a gathering in his honor at Blue Heron Coffeehouse in Winona on January 6, 2025, from 2 PM to 6 PM.

Watkowski-Mulyck Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.