ARCHIVE

Charles Koepke Sr.

Lifelong Herington resident Charles Koepke Sr., 73, died Oct. 18, 2004, at Mercy Regional Health Center, Manhattan.

Born Feb. 16, 1931, in Herington, he was the son of Henry and Anna (Knuth) Koepke.

He graduated from Herington High School in 1949 and served in the U.S. Air Force as a staff sergeant during the Korean War.

On Aug. 21, 1955, he married Aleda Meyer at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Herington.

He was a clerk for the Rock Island & Cotton Belt Railroads for 43 1/2 years, retiring on Feb. 1, 1993. He also sold and installed hard surface floors, walls, and countertops. He and his family built and owned Koepke Mobile Manor for 30 years, and grew and sold Christmas trees for 20 years.

He was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church and served on the church council. He was a member of the Herington Tree Board for 10 years and served as chairman for many of those years. He also was a member of the Kansas Christmas Tree Association and National Christmas Tree Association.

He was preceded in death by a daughter, Jane Louise Koepke; two brothers, Wayne Koepke and Norris Koepke; four sisters, Rose Ziebell, Mildred Traskowsky, Joesphine Volkman, and Paula Terrell; and his parents.

Survivors include his wife, Aleda of Herington; a daughter, Laurie Epps of Merriam; two sons, Charles Koepke Jr. of Herington and Andrew Koepke of Overland Park; a sister, Lila Roswurm of Harvest, Ala.; a brother, Dale Koepke of Marysville; and five grandchildren.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. today (Wednesday) at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Herington, with the Rev. Alix Pridgen officiating.

Burial was in Sunset Hill Cemetery, Herington, with full military honors.

Memorial funds have been established with the church or the Lutheran Home, Herington.

Quantcast