Carol Wagner-Sopjes

Wagner-Sopjes, Carol Jenison Carol Lee Wagner-Sopjes, age 85, went home to be with her Lord on Saturday, April 3, 2021, while surrounded by her loving family. Carol was born the daughter of Henry and Henrietta (Penning) Engberts in Kalamazoo, Michigan. She was united in marriage to Bruce Douglas Wagner in 1954 until Bruce's sudden death in 1990. She was further blessed in marriage to Donald Sopjes from 1996 until Don's passing in 2014. Carol was very devoted to her family as a stay-at-home mom, a partner in Bruce's church youth group and Young Life leadership and operating a restaurant in Richmond, Virginia. She tirelessly followed and supported her kids' many sports and educational endeavors through their college years. She enjoyed involvement in Don's family in birthday celebrations, times at the lake and at a condo for several years with Don in Fort Myers, Florida. Wherever she lived, she participated in supporting her church and enjoyed Bible Studies and helping out in various ways. She has many lifelong friendships from Kalamazoo that have been very meaningful to her. Carol has often been described as a "gentle spirit, liked by all, sweet", and was a very "accepting" person of those in her life. She lived in the Kalamazoo area most of her life, with several years in Midlothian, Virginia. In the last several months her family was able to have her closer to them in the Jenison-Grand Rapids area in an assisted living setting as her health began to fail in 2020. Her quiet, steady, caring presence will be sorely missed. Surviving Carol are her children Scott (June) Wagner of Jenison Michigan, Cheryl (Ray) Haupt of Eldora, Iowa and Kathy (Curt) Fitch of Jenison Michigan. She was an only child. She is also survived by brother-in-law David (Linda) Wagner of Kalamazoo. She is survived by her grandchildren: Julie (Steve) Korienek, Jason (Kellie) Wagner, Sara (Todd) Travis, Aaron Fitch, Todd (Jamie Haupt, Karla (David) Vos, Kevin Haupt, Randy Haupt and Sandy (Jason) Kuester and their children, her beloved great grandkids. She is also survived by Don Sopjes's children: David (Barbara) Sopjes, Bob (Winnie) Sopjes, Marcia (Dennis) Toennessen and Jack Sopjes and their children and great-grandchildren who were very special to her. We wish to thank American House- Jenison and Hospice of Michigan for their assistance to Carol's family in her care. A visitation was held for family and friends and interment took place at Mount Ever-Rest Memorial Park led by Reverend Ken Baker. A memorial service will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in honor of Carol to the Kalamazoo Christian School Association or Third Christian Reformed Church of Kalamazoo. Please visit Carol's tribute wall to leave condolence, personal message or memory of her at https://www.langelands.com