On Monday morning, June 15, 2015, Donald G. Koepke, was 81 years old, when he left his family’s side at St. Francis Regional Medical Center, Shakopee, MN. It was only 11 days prior (June 4, 2015), he lost his wife of 55 years, Martha. She was his rock, his will to live and the love of his life.
The family will greet guests on Thursday, June 18, from 4-7pm and on Friday, June 19 from 9:30-10:30 am at Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home 833 South Marschall Road, Shakopee, MN, A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11 am, at The Parish of Saints Joachim and Anne (St. Mary) 535 South Lewis Street, Shakopee. Father Erik Lundgren will preside. Full military honors will be provided by the Shakopee Veteran Honor Guard. Don and Martha will be laid to rest at a private burial service at Fort Snelling National Cemetery.
Donald was born on November 4, 1933, in Woollam, Missouri. He was the third of nine children to parents George and Hattie (Bunners) Koepke. Don was a country boy through and through. As a family, they lived off God’s land, by growing fruits and vegetables and raising animals, all in order to survive. He attended a country school and graduated from the eighth grade.
A quiet soldier of the United States Army, Don served from 1954-1956. He decided to head north to North Dakota and the summer of 1958 at Borden’s Potato House, Don had his eyes set on a colleague by the name of Martha Marie Klasen. Their love flourished and they were married on September 18, 1959, by the Justice of Peace in Grand Forks, ND. Don and Martha’s marriage was later blessed in the Catholic faith. God blessed them with five amazing children, Robert, Don Jr., Karen, Kathy and Lori.
In 1969, Don and Martha moved back to his home state of Missouri and built a new home for the family. They all loved being outdoors, and especially enjoyed fishing, camping, and traveling. Don also enjoyed hunting deer, squirrel, raccoon, turkeys or anything with four legs. He also appreciated pinochle, coin collection, crossword puzzles and finding treasures with his metal detector.
In his later twenties, Don attended school in North Dakota to be an electrician. This set the course of becoming a gifted man with his hands. Don worked in production for Chrysler Motor Company and as a machinist at Finale Engineering in Missouri. In 1981, the family moved back to Minnesota, Don and Martha once again found themselves working together in apartment maintenance and management. Later, he went back to work as a machinist for Milltronics Manufacturing, from 1993 until retiring in 2001. However, Don had to stay busy, so he went to work as a driver for NorthStar Auto Auction in Shakopee, until 2008. Throughout the years, Don had a wealth of knowledge and could fix just about anything from plumbing, to tiling and to any aspect of construction.
An amazing mathematician, Don had the patience of a saint. He truly enjoyed teaching his family and others how to complete their studies and accomplish tasks in life. Don was strong willed and determined, but had a tender heart of gold. He was always willing to lend a helping hand or an ear for listening. Don had strong desires for a cold Pepsi, chocolate covered peanuts and jumbo coconut shrimp.
Left to honor Don’s life, he will always be loved and remembered by children, Robert (Terry) Koepke, Don Jr. (Roxy) Koepke, Karen (Ken Langeslag) Barber, Kathy (Norbert) Hennen, Lori (Kevin) Wagener; 14 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; siblings, George Jr, Ester and Marie; other loving relatives and devoted friends
There to welcome Donald in heaven was his wife, Martha; parents; siblings, Richard, Gus, Fred, David and Shirley.
Luncheon immediately following the mass at St. Mark’s Social Hall located at 350 Atwood Street in Shakopee.
Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home and Cremation, Shakopee Chapel, proudly served and cared for the Koepke family. www.ballardsunderfuneral.com
