Wesley Mark Dopkins

Wesley Dopkins, only child of Mark and Kathryn Dopkins, was enjoying a cross-country camping trip with a friend, when he made his last earthly journey. He and friend were traveling from Wes’s home in St. Paul, Minnesota to the goal of Yellowstone National Park. They had already done a canoe trip in Minnesota’s Boundary Waters and had traveled through the Dakota Badlands, when they made their way to a stop in Grand Teton National Park. It was under a beautiful, blue sky and on innocent looking waters, that the friends began their paddle. Foolishly, yet selflessly, the usually safety-conscious Wes gave their sole PFD to his friend. Locals know about the often unpredictable mountain air currents and sudden condition changes…Wes was swallowed up by the tall waves that quickly came up by in that deep, cold lake.

Growing up in rural Wisconsin, Wes attended school in Prescott, Wisconsin. He was a Boy Scout, and enjoyed being in nature. He went on many camping trips with friends and family. He graduated St. Paul Academy Upper School, class of 1999. He attended Pomona College, Claremont, California, going on to graduate school in Freiburg University in Germany, where he achieved Masters level degrees in German, politics, and economics. Proficient in technology, Wes worked many years for the multinational company ELO Digital Office, based in Stuttgart, Germany. In his role as “product evangelist,” he educated and promoted the system and provided general help for customers and colleagues. Over the course of his career, Wes was able to travel extensively worldwide, making friends wherever he went.

Wes was kind. He was fun. He was a scholar, sharing things he learned, but never acting superior to anyone.

Wes had recently moved back home to the US to be closer to family. He was able to hang out often with his parents and other family, and helped his elderly grandmother (since passed). He quickly made fast friends through book club (he was usually the only one who had read the book), running club (routinely ending with a microbrew), and trivia night (he was king—who else would know all the female European political leaders of the 20th century?).

Our son made a difference in the world, and impacted others, who have in turn, “adopted” us. They and we have already had the first annual Wes Dopkins bike-athon in St. Paul, raising money for the nonprofit Bike League of America.

We, Wesley’s parents, will love, be grateful, and live to honor our son Wesley all of the rest of our days

We want to thank the entire Grand Teton National Park staff, specifically rangers Craig Thexton and Justin Olson. You did everything you could to find Wesley and to take care of us, and we appreciate your help and sensitivity in the midst of our grief and your personal challenges. We must save our American treasures in the way of our National Parks.

We also want to give enormous thanks to all of the anonymous volunteers who searched for Wes last year. People of Jackson County: THANK YOU! Thank you for your continued prayers, care and concern. Special thanks to Susanna, who took care of Wes’s friend when he had drifted ashore, and didn’t know what to do. You gave him a place to stay, and a shoulder to lean on. Thank you, Susanna.

Lastly, we must acknowledge the incredible work of the nonprofit, Bruce’s Legacy. Using their skills with advanced sonar technology and invaluable expertise, they were able to locate our son in the deepest part of the lake. If you wish to honor our son’s memory, please donate at bruceslegacy.com. Thank you.