Martha M. Koepke, of Shakopee (formerly of Oklee) passed away unexpectedly the evening of June 4, 2015. A visitation will be held on Monday, June 8, 2015 from 4:00 – 7:00 PM and again on Tuesday, June 9, 2015 from 9:30 – 10:30 AM at Ballard-Sunder Funeral & Cremation in Shakopee. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, June 9, 2015 at 11:00 AM at the Parish of St. Joachim and Anne, St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Shakopee. Father Peter Wittman will preside. Norbert Hennen, Kevin Wagener, Ken Langeslag, Corey Mathiesen, Matt Hennen and Shawn Wagener will act as pall bearers.
It was a beautiful summer day in Oklee, MN on July 2, 1940 when Leo and Frances (Brennen) Klasen celebrated the birth of their beautiful baby girl, Martha Marie Klasen. Martha enjoyed growing up in the country where she was able to have lots of pets. As a girl, Martha loved spending time with her Horse, Dolly. She also cared for a colt, dog (Tippy), and wild raccoon named Ring, who would come and go as he pleased, but always took a liking to Martha.
She attended and graduated from Oklee High School in 1958. The summer after high school she began working at Borden’s Potato House. It was there that she met a handsome young man named, Don Koepke. Martha and Don hit it off immediately, and their love grew quickly. They moved to Grand Forks and were married by the Justice of the Peace on September 18, 1959. Martha and Don later renewed their wedding vows, and their marriage was blessed by the Catholic Church. As newlyweds they moved around a bit before settling in Missouri . They were blessed with five wonderful children, Robert, Don Jr., Karen, Kathy and Lori.
As a family they loved camping, fishing and traveling together. They took many road trips up north to Minnesota to visit family. Throughout the years , Martha and Don also visited Colorado, Tennessee , and spent an entire winter in Texas visiting family.
While living in Missouri, Martha went to cosmetology school and became a beautician. She had her own shop, Martha’s Beauty Salon which she ran for many, many years. When their family moved back to Minnesota in 1981, Martha and Don once again found themselves working together doing apartment maintenance and management. Throughout the years Martha had many jobs, but Martha was most proud of the work she did as an advocate at Southern Valley Alliance for Battered Women and at Stafford Recovery Center. Martha had a servant’s heart and was always helping others. She volunteered for crisis hotlines, donated her time at the women’s prison in Shakopee, and offered her home as a refuge for battered women when they had nowhere else to go.
Martha retired at the age of 62, but she never slowed down. She loved playing cards, doing puzzles, reading books (especially Daniel Steele romance novels) and playing computer games. Martha also enjoyed gardening and often canned her own vegetables. She was a wonderful cook, famous for her apple sauce bread pudding, caramel rolls, cocoa mound (haystack) cookies and date balls.
Martha was a genuine optimist. She believed in the good of people, and was always there to pick you up if you were down. Martha will be deeply missed and remembered always by her loving husband, Don Koepke; children, Robert (Terry) Koepke, Don Jr. (Roxy) Koepke, Karen (Ken Langeslag) Barber, Kathy (Norbert) Hennen, Lori (Kevin) Wagener; 14 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; sister, Mary (Gary) Baggenstoss; other loving relatives and many dear friends. Martha will be greeted in Heaven by her parents Leo and Frances.
Martha’s family would like to extend a special thank you to Minister Rahsaan Krutch who anointed Martha and prayed with family members. Thank you to family and friends for their continued support and compassion during this difficult time.
The Koepke family is served with honor, care and compassion by Ballard-Sunder Funeral & Cremation.
