Gerald F Koepke

Gerald Frederick Koepke, age 91, of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, went to meet his Lord and Savior on Thursday, June 30, 2022 after battling cancer and just 9 weeks after he lost his beloved wife Eunice. Jerry (as he liked to be called) was born in Milwaukee and attended Rufus King High School. He attended Valparaiso University for several years and then went on to join the Navy. Many years later, after his five children were grown, he went back to finish his Bachelor of Arts degree from Concordia University in Mequon. Jerry married his Valparaiso University sweetheart, Eunice Koepke, on September 22, 1956, and they were together for all 65 years. They had five children: Denise, Timothy, Ruth, David, and Susan.

Gerald (Jerry) Koepke is survived by his children: Denise (Kevin) Knuth, Tim (Amy), Ruth, David and Susan, his grandchildren Samantha (Andrew) Mans and Emily (Matthew) Doty, Devyn and Jayden Koepke, and his great grandchildren Reagan and Jaxton Mans and Marley Koepke. He is predeceased by his wife Eunice, and his brother Donald as well as his parents Clarence and Hilde Koepke.

After Jerry’s 4 years in the Navy, he came home and went to work for his father’s insurance company – Semmann Insurance Agency. Later he worked as a financial Registered Representative for BC Ziegler (now titled Stifel). He retired from BC Ziegler in his late 60’s. Jerry’s favorite meal was anything beef. His children teased him about always eating two bun hamburgers, one bun hamburger, no bun hamburgers with a McDonalds Quarter Pounder or Solly’s hamburger thrown in there for good measure when they were growing up. His response was always (laughing) “stick it in your ear!” He loved to wave to us in a manner that became known as the “Koepke Wave” – thumb on nose and four fingers waving in the air as he turned profile to whomever it was. Jerry was honest as the day is long and liked to use moral stories when advising friends and family. He also loved to encourage his children with information about the Bible and the church and how to apply it to their lives. His faith was very strong and that guided him on his path in life. He loved to call his children on the portal to touch base each week and always called them in the order of their birth.

The memorial service will be held on Thursday, July 7 at Divine Redeemer Lutheran Church in Hartland, Wisconsin at 1:30 PM with visitation from 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be given to Divine Redeemer Lutheran Church.