Loves Park

Boyce "Butch" Junior Copeland, 66, passed away Thursday, July 24, 2025 at his home in Loves Park, Illinois, with his daughters at his side. Butch was born February 9, 1959 in Rockford, Illinois and was raised in Holcomb, Illinois. He raised his family and lived in Rochelle, Illinois, for many years.

Butch was a husband, son, father, uncle, author, and the neighborhood dad, as well as a proud construction worker. He worked as a laborer at the Byron Nuclear plant at the age of 18. He was proud to be a part of building the cooling towers. He worked at Chicago Carpenters Local Union
1889/58 for 20 years, concluding his career in high-end trim work. One of his most enjoyable and proudest jobs was doing trim work at the Chicago House of Blues.

He later graduated from Rock Valley Community College in 2008 with an associate's degree in applied science, Building Construction Technology. Then he continued his education at Western Illinois University, where he graduated in 2013 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Construction Project Management. Butch was able to work every day and do the thing he loved the most, construction and building. After graduating from college, he published a book in July 2025 that he had worked on for ten years, Angels of Pangaea: The Missing Link. Butch was a very faithful man and had a relationship with God and the Lutheran religion.

He was a beloved husband to Jennifer Copeland (Atkinson), who passed away before him in July of 2024. Butch loved her, and they had a fantastic relationship, taking very good care of each other. He enjoyed building projects for Jennifer's daycare and helping her grow her business. They enjoyed camping and being outdoors. They had two dogs, Moses and Katie, that they took with them everywhere.

Butch had three daughters to whom he was a fantastic dad. He would take them camping, hiking, riding go-karts, and a mini-bike that he built for them. He was their softball coach for 6 years when they were young. He enjoyed retirement, making and building things for others on his lathe. He made lamps for all his girls and his granddaughters, as well as salt and pepper shakers and other items.

Butch was a great and strong man who was deeply loved. Butch is preceded in death by his wife, Jennifer Copeland (Atkinson); parents, Syble and Henry Copeland; and sister, Betty Gosnell (Copeland).

He is survived by one brother, Alan Copeland; three daughters: Felicia (Troy) Laundry, Jennifer Copeland (Thomas Shaw), and Rachel Copeland; ex-wife, Jacqueline Griswold; six grandchildren: Kayleigh, Alyssa, Andrew, Caden, Brandon, and Noah: two great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews: Michael (Colleen) Gosnell, Amie (David) Love, Vera (Dylan) Atkinson and Jessica Erdman; mother-in-law, Patricia Atkinson and brother-in-law, Jeff Atkinson.

The visitation will be from 10:00 - 11:00 A.M., Tuesday, July 29, 2025 at the Unger-Horner Funeral Home, 400 N. 6th St., Rochelle.  The funeral service will follow at 11:00 A.M., Tuesday with Pastor Dave Rogula officiating.  Burial will be at Daysville Cemetery, Daysville, Illinois.  Memorials may be made in Butch's memory to Shriners Children's Chicago.  Visit www.ungerhorner.com to sign the online guest book.