Kenneth Hopper

Kenneth A. “Andy” Hopper, 63, of Springfield, Ohio passed away at home on June 28, 2024, exactly where he wanted to be. He was born February 26, 1961, the son of Kenneth G. and Judith (Deering) Hopper. He is survived by his wife of 32 years, Janet Hopper; four children, Janna Stone (Pamela Smith), Allen and Jennifer Stone, Caren (Hopper) and Matt Ellinger, and Crystal Hopper (McKinsey McPherson); four grandchildren, Kaylee Stone (Ethan Parks), Caleb Stone (Kylie League), Gavin and Layne Ellinger; and one great-granddaughter, Eloise Parks, as well as his siblings, Karen (Hopper) and Richard Turnmire, and Keith and Tracey (Gochenour) Hopper, super special brother-in-law, Johnny Thacker and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends, especially his “brothers, boyfriends, and best friends,” Danny Harper, Bud Taylor and Karl Atkins, Dean Smith, Bo Watkins, Mark Kohler, and John “Bunz” Klarin. He was preceded in death by his parents, Kenneth and Judith Hopper; his parent-in-laws, John and L. Doris Thacker; his loving and faithful companions, Sandy, Spanky, J.D., D.J., Buckeye, and knowing him, the most shocking companion of all, his cat, D.O.G. Kenneth was a former Marine and a retired Clark County Sheriff Deputy, for which he served and protected our community from 1983 until 1999, when he received his medical retirement. He was named Deputy of the Year in 1992 and received numerous other commendations during his time as an officer of the law. Kenneth also served as a Member and Officer of the Springfield Ohio FOP Lodge 72, and completed two tours of civilian contractor duty in Iraq, where he was responsible for instructing and training law enforcement. Kenneth was known by many names, Kenny, Andy, Do, Dad, Father, Fazha, EFIL (Evil Father-In-Law), Butthead, Richard, and A—hoooole, among numerous others, and he lived up to each and every one of them. To know him was to love him…or be completely exasperated and ticked off at him. If he didn’t like you, he picked on you. If he loved you, he picked on you even more. He loved being an LEO, he loved bowling, fishing, boating, camping, having whip cream, paintball, and water gun (he was deadly with that supersoaker) fights in the backyard with his children and their friends. He was strict and unyielding with his children, but he also loved and protected them fiercely and unwaveringly. He also loved torturing and pranking them mercilessly, and not one of them wants to move another rock for the rest of their lives. They will also treasure every bit of that torture, those pranks, and the God-awful wet willys and dog licks to the face that he was so fond of, along with all of the hugs, I Love Yous, and belly-aching laughs he was so good at inducing. Kenny was also terrified of needles, and while this is not normal obituary content, it is given with full-face grins for every family member, co-worker, and friend who knew him, as well as all the nurses who would fight over who got to give him shots, because he would pass right out if he saw the needle. Special Shoutout to Kenny’s special friend, Rocky the Racoon, who was mistaken for a burglar in a closet on a duty call. Thank you for providing us all with a lifetime of ammunition against him with just that one bite, including the rabies shots, the fake raccoon tail his family would leave around to scare him, and pointing out every single racoon we saw. We salute you, Sir. We also give special thanks to Dr. Ullah, whom Kenny affectionately called “Superman,” for his amazing care, compassion, and friendship over the years. In closing, Kenny was a man who was everything to some, something to everyone, and nothing to no one, because the man never knew a stranger. He will be greatly missed, never forgotten, and always loved. End of Watch, Deputy Hopper. We’ll take it from here. P.S.-He will not vote Biden. Visitation will be held for friends and family at Adkins Funeral Home in Enon, Ohio on Wednesday, July 3, 2024 from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. At 6:30 p.m., the Springfield, Ohio FOP Lodge 72 will hold a short ceremony and reading. Following the FOP ceremony, the Clark County Sheriff’s Department will close the visitation with a flag ceremony and presentation to the family.

Kenneth Hopper

February 26, 1961 - June 28, 2024