Angeline Kopka, once the oldest lawmaker in US, dies at 100

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — A five-term New Hampshire state representative who once was the oldest legislator in the country has died. Angeline “Angie” Kopka was 100.

A funeral home says Kopka died Friday at her home.

New Hampshire’s Legislature has 400 House representatives and 24 senators, making it the third largest legislative body in the English-speaking world behind the U.S. Congress and British Parliament.

In 2008, the National Conference of State Legislatures reported that New Hampshire had the oldest and youngest lawmakers in the country in Kopka and Jeff Fontas, both Democrats from Nashua. Kopka was then 92. Fontas was 21.

Kopka retired at 98.

Democratic U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen called Kopka a “trailblazer” who pushed boundaries, attended business college and created her own business, in addition to her public service.