Christopher Kopish, 70, passed away peacefully on September 13, 2026, surrounded by his family, after a courageous battle with stage IV metastatic bladder cancer.

Christopher was born on August 26, 1956, in Chicago, Illinois, to John Kopish and Orsola Ingrafia Kopish. After graduating from Maine East High School in 1974, Christopher continued his employment at Jewel-Osco but transitioned years later to his career in the warehouse industry, working as a material handler at WICO. Christopher preferred working in this industry for the rest of his working career, spanning more than 30 years at several different companies.

In 1991, Christopher met Emmy Nituda Kopish through their friends. The two married on September 26, 1994, and went on to have one son, John Chris Nituda Kopish.

After retiring in 2026, Christopher enjoyed spending his time watching sports, being with his loved ones, traveling to different cities, and trying new restaurants. He appreciated the simple pleasures in life and, most of all, valued the time he spent with his family.

Christopher was known by many as a kind, caring, warm, and loving person. His calm demeanor made people feel comfortable and at ease whenever they spoke with him. He deeply valued his family and consistently put their needs before his own. No matter how tired he was, Christopher would always put aside what he was doing to make sure his family was taken care of.

Christopher had a lifelong passion for sports and enjoyed watching games with anyone who was willing to join him. He loved sharing his knowledge of sports with others and would happily explain what was happening in a game, making sure everyone was up to date.

Through his marriage to Emmy, Christopher became part of a Filipino family and embraced a culture different from the one in which he was raised. He welcomed and appreciated Filipino culture and enjoyed the many traditions, gatherings, and especially the wide variety of Filipino delicacies that became a meaningful part of his life.

Christopher was also someone who knew how to go with the flow. He embraced the silly, funny, and unexpected moments that came with being around his family. His sense of humor and ability to laugh with others brought joy to those around him, and he developed many of his own jokes and sayings throughout his life.

Christopher was a simple man who did not require much to be happy. What mattered most to him was spending quality time with his family and making sure the people he loved were well cared for. His personal philosophy could often be summed up by one of his favorite expressions: “That’s a bunch of bologna sausage.” To Christopher, the phrase meant not to become fixated on the small details of life that ultimately do not matter, but instead to focus on the things that truly do.

One of Christopher’s final wishes to his family was simple: “I want you guys to be happy.” Those words reflect the person Christopher was throughout his life, someone who cared deeply for the people around him and wanted the people he loved to be happy, safe, and cared for.

Christopher was predeceased by his parents, John Kopish and Orsola Ingrafia Kopish. He is survived by his beloved wife, Emmy Nituda Kopish, and his son, John Chris Nituda Kopish.

Services will be held at North Shore Assembly of God Church on September 19, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. CST.