In Memoriam: Leslie Gail Dopkiss, CRNA (1955-2024)

Leslie Gail Dopkiss (Mussman), CRNA, 68, of Columbus, Ohio, passed away on Sunday, January 7, 2024, following a nine-month battle with brain cancer. She spent her last days surrounded by friends and family.

Leslie was born in Columbus, Ohio on July 17, 1955, to Courtland and Camilla Mussman. She graduated from The Ohio State University with a degree in nursing. Leslie then went on to earn her degree as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) from the Aultman Hospital School of Nurse Anesthesia, after which she spent over 40 years providing care for patients. Many of those years were spent in Columbus at the Ohio Surgery Center, and most recently with Midwest Anesthesia Physician Services. Through her work as a CRNA, she developed countless friendships with her colleagues, many of whom became like family.

Leslie is survived by her loving husband of 45 years, Michael Dopkiss; son, Matthew (Jessica) Dopkiss and their children, Emma, William, and James; daughter, Jessica (Tyler) Puhl and their children, Charles and Daniel; father-in-law Frank Dopkiss; Aunt Judy (Jim) Browning; sisters-in-law Beth (Rich) Lee, Cathy (Matt) Thomas, and Cindy (Stuart) Slavik; brother-in-law Frank (Lisa) Dopkiss; and a host of other relatives and close friends who loved her. She is preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Cindy; and her mother-in-law, Dorothy “Jean” Dopkiss.

Leslie led a full and rich life in which she enjoyed learning new things and traveling to new places. More than anything, she valued time spent with her husband, her children and their spouses, and her five grandchildren. Her husband, Mike, was her best friend and “travel buddy.” Mike and Leslie met at a Halloween party at which Leslie, an avid nature enthusiast and vegetarian, was dressed as a plant. After that memorable meeting, they went on to have many adventures and build their life together, living in several different cities in Ohio before settling in Columbus in the early 1990s. She and Mike spent time over the past several summers hiking various national parks out west. Her children and their spouses will cherish evenings spent with Leslie filled with nice conversation, competitive card play, and sharing wine. Leslie was a wonderful grandmother who always found time to hold her grandchildren, create new activities for them, and listen to what they had to say. Outside of her family and her career, Leslie was many things: a caregiver, a label-making enthusiast, a talented seamstress, a photographer, and an intellectually curious person with a persistent desire to learn. She was generous and kind; she never hesitated to help when help was needed. Her friends and family will always love, cherish, and remember her. She will be missed dearly.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Leslie Dopkiss’s name to the Bishop Griffin Resource Center, 2867 East Livingston Avenue, Columbus Ohio 43209, http://bgrc-svdp.org/donate

This obituary was originally published on Dignity Memorial’s website.