Eugene “Jim” Copp, age 92, of Lyons, died peacefully Aug. 22 one day after last rites bedside surrounded by dozens of weepy but faith-filled family. He died clutching the memorial card of his beloved late wife, Grace.

He was the loving father of Karen (Larry) Kelliher, Jay (Laura) Copp, Kathy (Nick) Tristano, John (Maureen) Copp, Carol (Michael) Stewart, Cindy (Marc Wellin) Copp and Chris (Paul) Hart; dear grandfather of Katie (Dan Mullen), Kirsten, Colin and Kelsey Kelliher; Kevin, Andrew, and Brendan (Elizabeth) Copp; Meghan, Stephanie, Becky, Chrissy, Nicole Tristano and Sofie Valencia; Maria Copp (Scott Fujan), Johnny, Joey, Emma and the late Laura Copp; Maxwell and Daniela Stewart; Pascale, Francis, Grace and Celeste Wellin; Katie, Carson, Caroline and Casey Hart; great-grandfather (“Papa Great”) of Poppy, Teddy and James Mullen, fond brother of the late Raphael, Raymond, Lawrence and Mary Ann.

Jim loved Grace, his family, America and God. He was the quintessential Catholic dad, quick with a joke and friendly patter. He spewed out his trademark one-liners: “Wish I felt as good as I looked.” After a grandchild struck out, “He hit a line drive to the catcher.” Recalling his humble origins as the son of a miner in downstate Rutland, “We had three rooms and a path [to the outhouse].”

After toiling on his debit selling life insurance for Prudential, he somehow retired at age 57 with kids still in college. He never met a stranger, and he loved life: Friday nights at JC’s in McCook for a nightcap and dancing with Grace, a month each spring in Arizona to watch the Cubs and many trips to Mexico. He and Grace went to daily Mass, delivered Meals on Wheels and doted on the grandkids.

He lived a charmed life. Patriotically enlisting during the Korean War, he wielded a baseball bat for U.S. Army teams in Europe. In 1966, in a story that stretches credulity, two escaped prisoners jumped into his car at a stoplight, put a gun to his head and ended up holding his entire family hostage in their Lyons home for 10 hours. Cool-headed Jim persuaded the men to conceal their guns, and he told his kids the men were business pals. Tensions eased. The “two desperados frolicked with captives’ kiddies,” as the Chicago American reported. The men eventually were apprehended by police, and through the grace of God no one was hurt.

Jim’s life and death were grace-filled. He meant the world to his family. Growing up in our modest, crowded home in Lyons in the 1960s and 1970s with our loving parents was a gift beyond compare and gave us lifelong faith, hope and love.

Visitation is Thursday from 3 to 9 p.m. at Hallowell & James Funeral Home, 1025 W. 55th St., Countryside. Mass is 10 a.m. Friday at St. Cletus Church, 600 W. 55th St., La Grange. Interment Queen of Heaven Cemetery. Please omit flowers. In lieu, memorials given to Nazareth Academy, Fenwick High School, Honor Flight, and St. Catherine – St. Lucy School in Oak Park, IL.  Funeral Info: 708-352-6500