Peter Kopiloff of Lakewood, passed away September 26, 2016. Peter was born October 25, 1925 in Vyaz’ma (Smolensk) Russia, the son of Philip and Nadezdia Kopiloff.

Peter SURVIVED World War II! He and numerous young boys in the village were gathered, rounded up, taken to the forest, rifles pointed ready to fire and being his faith in God, praying or a Nazi commander riding up, he was miraculously released, set free. He ran, he hid, HE SURVIVED! This was just one of many survival stories he shared with his family.

Peter, “PAPA,” his beloved wife Valentina and daughter, Nina immigrated to the United States of America, the “land of opportunity,” in November 1951 via the USS General Greely. In New Orleans, Louisiana, they departed the docked ship on November 7, 1951.

Papa and his family were finally safe and settled in Colorado (Globeville). Immediately his faith in God, the Russian Orthodox Religion, lead him and his family to The Holy Transfiguration of Christ Orthodox Cathedral where he was a parishioner for Sixty-Five Years.

Papa worked hard to provide for his family and worked many years as a machinist. He also owned a small business, The White Horse Lounge. In his spare time helped his family, friends, clergy and for many years served as a board member of the church.

Peter will always be remembered as a devoted Husband of Seventy Years, a patient teacher, a loving nourishing Father, a MENTOR to many and a caring, compassionate, Strong Russian Man! Even though the bombs destroyed his hearing in one ear he would always hear a baby, a child crying, and that was disheartening to him.

Papa would always be as he would say married to his “second wife,” the garage! Every screw, washer, bolt, organized, labeled, every tool accounted for, he wrote down and logged mileage, oil changes and kept receipts for all repairs for every vehicle.

Peter is survived by his Children, Igor, Ludmila Kopiloff-Glasson and Nina Meis; Grandchildren, Mark D. Glasson, Christina Rea and Daniel Meis II; Great-grandchildren Natasha, Alexander and Caiden Rea, Noi and Keegan Meis; Brother Sergei Kopiloff; Brother-In-Law Paul (Margareta) Kondakoff and many relatives, including but not limited to nephews, nieces, godchildren, many, many, many cherished friends. Sheree (Les) Evans-Metcalf is one of numerous special people in his life.

He was preceded in death by his Soulmate, his beloved Wife Valentina; beloved Parents, Philip and Nadezdia Kopiloff; Sister Nina Kopiloff; Sisters-in-law Valentina Kopiloff and Olga Fedorowicz; Son-In-Law/ “SON” Dennis C. Glasson and numerous relatives, friends and clergy.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Holy Transfiguration of Christ Orthodox Cathedral in Memory of Peter Kopiloff.

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