Karl Oren KEPNER

GEPNER, HAWLEY, JARRED, MATTHEWS, CAMACHO

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 6/28/2011 at 23:11:15

OBITUARY ~ KARL OREN GEPNER, BENTON IA
October 16, 1933 ~ June 14, 2011

Karl Oren GEPNER was born October 15, 1933 in Garnett, Kansas to Oren "Skip" GEPNER and Cleo HAWLEY GEPNER. He departed this life at Clearview Home in Mount Ayr on Tuesday, June 14, 2011.

Cleo and Skip's family included Marvin, who died as a small child, Karl, Bill, Mary Ann, Larry, Donald, and Joe. The GEPNER family moved to Mount Ayr when Karl was a young child. Karl graduated from Mount Ayr High School in 1952. He served his country in the United States Army and was stationed in Germany. Coming home to Mount Ayr after his military service, he worked as a heavy equipment operator. In 1960, he helped build a road in Liberia West Africa. Returning from Liberia, he worked for Wayne JARRED as a 'dozer' operator building many ponds in Ringgold County.

On October 26, 1961, he was united in marriage to Mary Kathryn MATTHEWS in the Methodist Chapel in Maryville, Missouri. To this union, one son, Michael Gail GEPNER, was born on September 6, 1965. In 1964, Karl and Mary Kathryn moved to Council Bluffs where their son, Mike, was born. The family made their home in Council Bluffs for 36 years. Using his veteran's benefits, Karl trained in electronics and worked as a TV repairman for many years. He worked for Sol LEWIS and TeleService in Omaha and Herb's TV in Council Bluffs. Before his retirement, he operated his own TV repair business.

After his retirement in 1995, he moved to the family home in Benton where he lived until he moved into Clearview Home on April 22, 2011.

Karl loved his family and loved spending time with them. Mike and Nancy's wedding in 2004 was a special joy to Karl as he gained a daughter and a grandson. As long as he was able he enjoyed fixing chicken on the grill for family and anyone else that stopped. He loved getting the whole GEPNER family together. He enjoyed all sports; baseball and the Cubs were his favorite team. But what he enjoyed most was seeing his grandson Michael wrestle - no meet was too long for him. He loved his dogs, especially Bud and Molly, who accompanied him on all trips to Mount Ayr in the old red Ford pickup.

Preceding him in death were his parents Skip and Cleo GEPNER; brothers Marvin, Bill, and Larry; sister Mary Ann; his father-in-law Marshall MATTHEWS and mother-in-law Dorothy MATTHEWS.

Left to mourn his passing are his wife Mary Kathryn of the home; son Mike and wife Nancy of Mount Ayr; grandson Michael CAMACHO of Creston; brothers Don and wife Diane of Brooklyn, Iowa and Joe of Lenox, Iowa; nieces and nephews; and many friends and acquaintances.

Memorials are to Alzheimer Association.

Funeral Services were held Saturday, June 18, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. from Watson-Armstrong Funeral Home of Mount Ayr. Interment was at Benton Cemetery, Benton. Watson-Armstrong Funeral home in charge of arrangements.

SOURCE: www.watsonarmstrongfh.com/obituaries.aspx?turl=http://hosting-24708.tributes.com/show/Karl--Gepner-91716883

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, June of 2011

Ringgold Obituaries maintained by Tony Mercer.
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