Charles Richard (Dick) Koepke, Colonel, USAF (ret.), 82, of Emporia died on April 27, 2011, at Newman Regional Health, Emporia.
Dick was born on April 1, 1929 in Long Beach, California, the son of Fred and Marie (Hasselman) Koepke. He married Sylvia Markowitz on April 27, 1963 in Emporia, Kansas. She survives at the home.
Other survivors include: nieces and spouses, Lea and Darrell Ringler of Emporia, Dana Markowitz of Emporia, Jan and Den Darting of Baldwin City, Kansas, Denise and Everett Osgood of Overland Park, Kansas, and Barbara Breeze of Lynwood, California; nephew, Robert and wife, Carol Breeze of Cherry Hills Village, Colorado; numerous great-nieces and nephews and several great-great nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents, and a sister, Kathryn Breeze.
In 1952, Dick entered the United States Air Force spending 18 years with the Strategic Air Command, piloting B-47 and B-52 bombers. From June 1971 through June 1972 he served in Viet Nam and Thailand as Deputy Director of Munitions for the 7th Air Force, Ton Son Nhut Air Base, Viet Nam and later Commander, 635th MMS, Utapao Air Base, Thailand. He served as Detachment Commander, Kleine-Brogen, Belgium. He retired at Rhine-Main Air Force Base, Germany, in May, 1974 with the rank of Colonel.
He attended Long Beach City College, Long Beach State College, and UCLA. After his career in the Air Force he completed his Bachelors of Arts Degree and received teaching credentials from California State College, Stanislaus, Turlock, California. He taught in the Merced, California City School District for 11 years.
Col. Koepke was a member of the Merced (California) Golf and Country Club, a Charter Member of the Castle Air Museum, a life-member Order of the Daedalians (National Fraternity of Military Pilots), the Retired Officers Association, and the Rusty Zippers.
After retiring from education, he was a volunteer for the Red Cross at Castle Air Force Base Pharmacy, IRS/AARP Tax Preparation, and was Historian at Castle Air Museum.
He enjoyed reading, crossword puzzles, music, and also golf, when the ball went where he wanted it to.
Cremation is planned.
Memorial services will be held on Monday, May 2, 2011, at 10:30 AM at Roberts-Blue-Barnett Funeral Home, Emporia, Kansas. The service will be conducted by Father Richard Warsnak, Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Emporia. Inurnment will follow at the Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery with Military Graveside Honors by Lowry-Funston Post #1980, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Ball-McColm post #5, American Legion.
In remembrance of Dick, you may wish to support the Friends of the Library, H. Dale Buck Animal Welfare Fund, or Emporia Friends of the Zoo. Contributions may be sent in care of the funeral home. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Charles "Dick" Richard Koepke, please visit our flower store.
Dick was born on April 1, 1929 in Long Beach, California, the son of Fred and Marie (Hasselman) Koepke. He married Sylvia Markowitz on April 27, 1963 in Emporia, Kansas. She survives at the home.
Other survivors include: nieces and spouses, Lea and Darrell Ringler of Emporia, Dana Markowitz of Emporia, Jan and Den Darting of Baldwin City, Kansas, Denise and Everett Osgood of Overland Park, Kansas, and Barbara Breeze of Lynwood, California; nephew, Robert and wife, Carol Breeze of Cherry Hills Village, Colorado; numerous great-nieces and nephews and several great-great nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents, and a sister, Kathryn Breeze.
In 1952, Dick entered the United States Air Force spending 18 years with the Strategic Air Command, piloting B-47 and B-52 bombers. From June 1971 through June 1972 he served in Viet Nam and Thailand as Deputy Director of Munitions for the 7th Air Force, Ton Son Nhut Air Base, Viet Nam and later Commander, 635th MMS, Utapao Air Base, Thailand. He served as Detachment Commander, Kleine-Brogen, Belgium. He retired at Rhine-Main Air Force Base, Germany, in May, 1974 with the rank of Colonel.
He attended Long Beach City College, Long Beach State College, and UCLA. After his career in the Air Force he completed his Bachelors of Arts Degree and received teaching credentials from California State College, Stanislaus, Turlock, California. He taught in the Merced, California City School District for 11 years.
Col. Koepke was a member of the Merced (California) Golf and Country Club, a Charter Member of the Castle Air Museum, a life-member Order of the Daedalians (National Fraternity of Military Pilots), the Retired Officers Association, and the Rusty Zippers.
After retiring from education, he was a volunteer for the Red Cross at Castle Air Force Base Pharmacy, IRS/AARP Tax Preparation, and was Historian at Castle Air Museum.
He enjoyed reading, crossword puzzles, music, and also golf, when the ball went where he wanted it to.
Cremation is planned.
Memorial services will be held on Monday, May 2, 2011, at 10:30 AM at Roberts-Blue-Barnett Funeral Home, Emporia, Kansas. The service will be conducted by Father Richard Warsnak, Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Emporia. Inurnment will follow at the Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery with Military Graveside Honors by Lowry-Funston Post #1980, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Ball-McColm post #5, American Legion.
In remembrance of Dick, you may wish to support the Friends of the Library, H. Dale Buck Animal Welfare Fund, or Emporia Friends of the Zoo. Contributions may be sent in care of the funeral home. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Charles "Dick" Richard Koepke, please visit our flower store.
Guestbook
Visits: 0
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors