Kephart, Russell Lee 1927-2011

KEPHART, THOMPSON, HENRY, REISINGER, SMITH, NORINGY, OLSON, NOAKE, KERNS, ASHBY, SHEETZ, AHRENS, SELLERS, VINCENT

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 9/14/2012 at 12:08:04

Russsell L. Kephart, age 84, of Decorah, IA, died Tuesday, September 27, 2011 at his home in Decorah.

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, October 1, 2011 at First United Methodist Church in Decorah with Rev. John Caldwell officiating. Burial will be in Phelps Cemetery in Decorah with full military honors.

Visitation will be from 4:00-7:00 P.M. Friday, September 30 at Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah and on Saturday one hour before the service at the church.

Russell Lee Kephart was born May 3, 1927, in Keswick, IA, the seventh of nine children of William Lloyd Kephart and Alice Thompson Kephart. His early years were spent with his loving family in Sigourney, IA. He graduated from high school in 1945 with achievement awards in music and athletics. He then enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving in the 695th Army Air Corps Band in Germany as a Sergeant-Bandsman, playing the French horn.

After the war, he continued with music, studying French horn with the St. Louis Symphony’s principal horn player Ed Murphy. Murphy convinced Russ to transfer from Iowa Wesleyan College to the University of Missouri at Columbia. It was the right move, as he excelled in both the Stephens College Burrall Symphony and the University Concert Band, and met his future wife, fellow Missouri student Thela Lynne Henry. Russ and Lynne were married December 30, 1950, at Alexandria, Virginia, at Lynne’s home church, Washington Street Methodist Church.

The couple made their first home in Muscatine, IA, where Russ was circuit-rider band director in Columbus Junction, Lone Tree and Nichols. The Kepharts moved to Davenport when Russ became a school service representative with Cook’s Music Shop. He later joined band instrument manufacturer G.Leblanc Corp. as a district sales and educational representative, working with music dealers, colleges, and professional musicians in seven Midwestern states.

With two small children at home and another expected, Russ wanted more time with his family. A visit to Decorah, IA proved instrumental, as he quickly realized this was the place for his family. Friend Weston Noble had told Russ that the local small music dealer, Thurst Kjome, was ready to retire. On July 1, 1960, Kephart’s Music Center was in business.

In the fifty years Russ was in Decorah, he was involved in many activities and organizations, including United Methodist Church, Decorah Chamber of Commerce (former president), Lions Club, Decorah Betterment, New Minowa Players (board member), VFW, Elks Club, Masonic Lodge and Oneota Golf and Country Club. As president of Oneota, he was instrumental in expanding the golf course to an 18-hole facility.

As founder of Kephart’s Music, he served in many professional organizations, including the National Association of Music Merchants (board member), National Association of School Music Dealers, Iowa Bandmasters Association, Iowa Association of School Music Dealers, Iowa Music Educators Association, and Northeast Iowa Bandmasters Association. Russ and his family were honored in 2010 as one of the Grand Marshals of the Nordic Fest parade in recognition of their support of Nordic Fest and 50 years of business in Decorah.

Russ’s greatest love, after his family, was the people he served: the customers, dealers and business associates. He helped thousands of young people discover their own love of music, with the focus always on promoting music education. Russ continued his love of music throughout his retirement, spending winters in Texas with Lynne, and playing French horn with the Winter Texas Orchestra, which he occasionally directed. He loved playing in the Rio Grande Valley Concert Band. He restored clarinets in his Texas workshop and worked on string instruments in Decorah in his retirement years. Besides music, he enjoyed time with his family, camping, boating, fishing, golfing, reading and traveling.

Russ died Tuesday, September 27, 2011 at his home in Decorah at the age of 84.

Russ is survived by his wife, Lynne; children Russell Jr. – Rusty (Wendy) Kephart, Dubuque, IA, Neal (Kathy) Kephart, Hayward, WI, James (Ann) Kephart, Decorah, IA; thirteen grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren: Elizabeth (Eric) Reisinger-William and Ann, Jennifer (John Smith) Kephart, Erick (Chelsey) Kephart, Cassidy (Tim) Noring-Aubrey, Anthony Olson, Daniel (Michelle) Kephart-Jacob, Peter and Kara, Timothy (Susan) Kephart –Madeline and Louisa, Molly (Timothy) Noake, Katie (Zachary) Kerns, Allison Kephart, Peter Kephart, Linnea Kephart, and Andrew Kephart; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter Marcia Lynne Kephart (June 28, 1987); and his eight siblings: Lillian Ashby, Kate Sheetz, Rose Ahrens, Jesse Sellers, Esther Vincent, William Kephart, Norman Kephart, and Norval (Swede) Kephart.

Memorials may be given to First United Methodist Church, Friends of the Decorah Public Library, or Decorah Community School District Foundation.

Source: Fjelstul Funeral Home database

Phelps Cemetery
 

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