James M. “Jim” Koeppel Sr.

KOEPPEL, MINNICK, KENDALL, MUSSER, WARNING, BULINE, MEADE

Posted By: Sarah Fletcher (email)
Date: 5/7/2018 at 15:21:20

James M. “Jim” Koeppel Sr., 71, of Hills, died Tuesday, April 17, 2018 at the Mercy Hospice Unit in Iowa City surrounded by his loving family.

The family will greet friends Sunday from noon to 4:00 pm at Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service in Iowa City. A Celebration of Life will begin at 4:00 pm.
In lieu of flowers and plants, memorials may be directed to Iowa City Hospice, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society or Alzheimer’s Research.

Born September 6, 1946 in Peoria, the son of Willard and Dorothy (Minnick) Koeppel, Jim grew up in Peoria and graduated from Peoria Manual High School.

He married his high school sweetheart, Gloria Kendall, on March 6, 1964 in Peoria.

Moving to the Iowa City/Coralville area in 1988, Jim purchased AAA Mechanical Contractors, Inc., owning and operating the business until 2012 – when he sold the business to his daughter and two sons. Jim was very proud that he was able to work with his three kids for approximately 25 years and that they are still carrying on his legacy today. Jim belonged to the Mechanical Contractors Association of Iowa and served as President and on the Board of Directors for many years. He proudly served as a contractor trustee for the Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 125 health & welfare and pension board, as well as other countless committees in the community.

Up until a year ago, Jim and his wife Gloria wintered in Gold Canyon, Arizona and loved when family and friends would come to visit and enjoy the warm weather together. They were also able to travel across the country in their RV going to many bluegrass festivals and he would even go to flea markets to be able to spend time with the love of his life, Glo.

Jim was a true musician and was passionate about playing the banjo. One of his proudest moments was meeting and becoming friends with Joe Bonsall from the Oak Ridge Boys and being able to play banjos together on a handful of occasions. He was proud to be able to call Joe his friend.

Jim was an outstanding husband, dad, grandpa, son, brother, uncle and friend. He was so proud of his three kids and seven grandkids. He loved cheering them on at their sporting events, dance recitals, music concerts, etc. He was always their biggest fan no matter the occasion.

He enjoyed everything Iowa Hawkeyes and was a lifelong Chicago Cubs fan.

Jim is survived by his wife Gloria; daughter, Tammy Musser (Ken) of Iowa City,
sons, Jim Koeppel Jr. (Julie) of Coralville and Jeff Koeppel (Traci) of North Liberty; grandchildren, Jacob Warning (Jana), Kacey Buline (Dillon), Ashley Musser, Jayme Koeppel, Josh Koeppel, Olivia Meade, a brother, Phillip Koeppel (Karen) of Wyoming, Illinois and his beloved Daisy, his miniature schnauzer.

He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, George and Bill, his father-in-law and mother-in-law Verne and Daisy Kendall.

Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service
 

Johnson Obituaries maintained by Cindy Booth Maher.
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