“But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.” 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 Ben Schoppe was called home to Jesus on August 8, 2020, after battling Covid-19. Ben Schoppe was born on September 25, 1937, in Lyons, Texas to George and Lena Schoppe. The youngest of six children, Ben was raised in the country until the age of 7, at which point the family relocated to Houston where the family attended Bethany Lutheran Church and Ben was enrolled in Bethany Lutheran School, It was here that Ben discovered the two passions of his life. It was at Bethany where Ben discovered his strong faith and began his life-long dedication to both Lutheran education and Merri McInnis, Following Bethany, Ben attended the original Lutheran High School, a school and organization to which he would be dedicated for the rest of his years. Ben went on to earn his Bachelor of Science, in Accounting from the University of Houston. After graduation, Ben joined the Texas National Guard, where he served loyally for six years including one year of active duty throughout the Berlin Crisis. In 1961, Ben married the love of his life, Merri McInnis at Bethany Lutheran Church in Houston. Ben and Merri were married for 59 beautiful years, during which they raised four children in love and faithfulness: Christopher, wife Angela, Lara, husband Craig, Stephen, wife Jennifer, and Malynda, and Eric. Ben and Merri were blessed with eight grandchildren-Zachary, Luke, Elizabeth, Joshua, Elena, Eli, Grace, and Abigail. Ben was also very passionate about his work. He started his career off at an accounting firm called Shoemaker and Company and after several years he decided to go out on his own. He started his firm with only one client, but he was able to build it up through years of hard work and sacrifice. Ben believed that building relationships with his clients was of the utmost importance and he truly enjoyed helping people. Because of that, he had many long-time clients and a lot of those turned into lifelong friends. Ben also wanted to specifically help Lutheran pastors and teachers with their taxes and he became someone in the Lutheran community that those people could count on for help. Almost twenty-five years ago, Ben approached his son Stephen to join him at the firm and make it a family business. It was an endeavor that they both enjoyed immensely. For almost every day of those twenty-five years, they had lunch together and would discuss their work, their families, and their faith and this broughtgreat joy to both. Ben Schoppe was a loyal and dedicated servant of God. He lived an exemplary life of stewardship and faith through both his words and his deeds, Ben worked with and within the Lutheran Education Association of Houston, serving on the Board of Education for over 25 years. Ben was also one of the founders of Lutheran High North, a vision that Ben saw materialized and thrive. Ben also was the founding member of Our Savior Lutheran’s Men Alive Bible Group and Study. Ben not only served as a leader to his brothers in Christ, but came to represent and epitomize how a Christian man serves his Lord as well as his family. Ben is survived by his wife, children, and grandchildren, as well as nieces, nephews, countless friends, and the many others whose life was better for meeting him. In lieu of flowers, the family ask that donations be made to Lutheran High North’s “Back a Lion” program Back a Lion Fund Lutheran High North in honor of Ben’s legacy to Lutheran Education.
In Memoriam