Howard Stuart Roper, age 67, of Oregon passed away on Monday, December 7, 2015 surrounded by his family at the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital in Madison after battling for 20 plus years with heart disease. He was born January 19, 1948 and was the adopted son of Raymond and Erma (Ott) Roper. Howard graduated from Baraboo High School in 1967. Following high school he served as a Corpsman in the U.S. Navy in Vietnam alongside the Marines. Howard continued his service in the Navy after Vietnam and retired from the Naval Reserves in 1991. On September 2, 1972 he was united in marriage to Linda Cockroft at the Verona Baptist Church. Howard was a member of the Capitoland Christian Center for over 30 years.

Howard is survived by his children Michael (Ruth) Roper of Oregon, WI, Patrick (Julie) Roper of Belleville, WI, Ruth Ann (Rick) Rogers of LaFarge, WI, Brent Roper of Oregon, WI, Robert Roper of Oregon, WI, and Elizabeth Roper of Oregon, WI, eight grandchildren Mackenzie, Samuel, Jacob, Lenora, Liberty, Madeline, Zander, and Ryleigh. He is further survived by his in-laws Judith (Bliss) Nicholson, Michael (Jeanie Coldiron) Cockroft, Joan (Jerry) Smithback, Constance (Roger) Jameson, and Patrick (Kimberly) Cockroft, brother Gerald (Jackie) Baumgartner, sister Peggy (Roger) Zicker, and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Linda, brother Ron Strohbusch, father-in-law and mother-in-law LeRoy and Lenore Cockroft, and a niece Katie Mathews.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 12, 2015 at the Capitoland Christian Center, 3651 Maple Grove Dr., Madison, WI with Pastor Stephen Stauffacher officiating with burial in the Belleville Cemetery.

Relatives and friends may call from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, December 11, 2015 at the Becker-Beal Funeral Home, 109 Greenway Cross, Belleville, WI and from 12:30 p.m. until time of services on Saturday, December 12, 2015 at the Capitoland Christian Center.

A memorial fund has been established.