SMEINS, Eppogene 1929-2012

SMEINS, BULTEN, DEVRIES

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 9/15/2013 at 16:37:05

Eppogene "Epp" Floyd Smeins, age 83, of Aplington, Iowa, was born the son of Fred and Anna (Bulten) Smeins on April 21, 1929, in Aplington, Iowa. He received his education from a rural country school near his home and attended a year of school at the Austinville School. Epp was drafted into the United States Army during the Korean War on August 1, 1951. He served as a cook, while being stationed mainly in Georgia and South Carolina, until he was honorably discharged.

On December 26, 1951, Eppogene was united in marriage with Anna Mae DeVries at the Austinville Christian Reformed Church. They made their home in Aplington for a short time, living most of their married life in Austinville. Through the years he worked at Hawkeye Steel in Waterloo, Farmland Foods in Iowa Falls and the Austinville Elevator until retirement in 1993.

Epp was a member of the First Reformed Church in Aplington and a past member of the former Christian Reformed Church in Ackley until it closed. He had served as a Deacon and Elder and also had taught Catechism and Sunday school classes and sang in the church choir.

A favorite pastime was fishing and taking family camping trips. He loved traveling to see his family and attending his grandchildren's activities. He enjoyed woodworking making games and other special gifts for his family. He enjoyed spending time with his family especially with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Eppogene died November 27, 2012, at his home in Aplington of natural causes. He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Catherine Whitmire; a brother, Paul Smeins; and a brother-in-law, Wayne Neymeyer.

Epp is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Anna Mae; three sons, Doyle of Long Beach, CA, Craig (Cyndi) of Ankeny, IA, and Myron (Genet) of St. Helens, OR; three daughters, Wanda (Jim) Meyer of Aplington, IA, Annette (Andy) Macfie of Pt. Richmond, CA, and Amy (Scott) Weber of Mount Vernon, IA; 13 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; a brother, Harlan (Martha) Smeins of Ackley, IA; a sister, Genevieve Neymeyer of Aplington, IA; a brother-in-law, Gerald Whitmire of Parkersburg; and a sister-in-law, Shirley Smeins of Earlville, IA.

Funeral Services will be 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the First Reformed Church in Aplington with burial at the Ackley Christian Reformed Cemetery in Ackley.

Visitation will be 5 8 p.m. Friday at the First Reformed Church in Aplington.