Obituary for James Richard Sopel
James R. Sopel, age 79, passed away in Port Charlotte, FL on January 13, 2020.
He was born in Manchester, NH on May 27, 1940 to John and Florence Sopel. James attended school in Manchester, NH and then went on to serve in the US Navy from 1958 - 1962.
He was the Chief Test Engineer for the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, retiring in 1995. James has spent the last 25 years in Rangeley, ME where he has enjoyed hunting and fishing. He also loved to sail on Massabesic Lake in Auburn, NH. James is preceded in death by his parents and his brothers, William Sopel and Jack Sopel.
He is survived by his wife of 27 years, Renee Sopel; his daughters, Stephanie and her husband Eric Shirley of Belmont, NH, and Kristen Morneau of Manchester, NH; stepsons Chris and his wife Lori LaRose of Sanford, Me and Bill LaRose of Springvale, ME; grandchildren Hannah Shirley, Nate shirley, Nick Morneau, Noah LaRose and Callie LaRose; sister, Natalie Kukla of Auburn, Ala; brother Michael Sopel of Tuscola, IL; and sister-in-law Frances Sopel of Meadowlakes, TX.
There will be a service at a later date at the Southern Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Springvale.
He was born in Manchester, NH on May 27, 1940 to John and Florence Sopel. James attended school in Manchester, NH and then went on to serve in the US Navy from 1958 - 1962.
He was the Chief Test Engineer for the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, retiring in 1995. James has spent the last 25 years in Rangeley, ME where he has enjoyed hunting and fishing. He also loved to sail on Massabesic Lake in Auburn, NH. James is preceded in death by his parents and his brothers, William Sopel and Jack Sopel.
He is survived by his wife of 27 years, Renee Sopel; his daughters, Stephanie and her husband Eric Shirley of Belmont, NH, and Kristen Morneau of Manchester, NH; stepsons Chris and his wife Lori LaRose of Sanford, Me and Bill LaRose of Springvale, ME; grandchildren Hannah Shirley, Nate shirley, Nick Morneau, Noah LaRose and Callie LaRose; sister, Natalie Kukla of Auburn, Ala; brother Michael Sopel of Tuscola, IL; and sister-in-law Frances Sopel of Meadowlakes, TX.
There will be a service at a later date at the Southern Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Springvale.