Earl Koepp

Earl Koepp, age 90 of Belle Plaine, passed away on Sunday, May 16, 2021 at Mayo Hospital in New Prague. Funeral service will be at 11 a.m. on Monday, May 24, 2021 at St. John Lutheran Church in Belle Plaine. Visitation will be from 9-11 a.m. at the church. Interment for Earl and Lorraine will take place following the service.

Earl Wilmer Koepp was born in Blakeley Township on November 23, 1930 to Clarence and Anna (Blaha) Koepp. He married Lorraine Borchardt at Emmanuel (Fish Lake) Lutheran Church on November 29, 1951. Together they farmed in Belle Plaine for many years and raised their family.

Earl was a veteran of the Korean War being discharged in November 1953. Earl and Lorraine moved back to Belle Plaine after being stationed in Alabama. They made their home on German Road in Belle Plaine, MN. 

Farming was Earl’s passion.  He worked hard and played hard.  With his love for farming, he wore many hats: custom farming - swatting grain, chopping silage, and cutting wood. He mowed ditches for Scott County, stacked pea vines for Green Giant, sold seed for Trojan and Dekalb Seed Companies, raising livestock and growing crops.  

Earl enjoyed working next to Lorraine and together with their family. In their free time they enjoyed dancing together, fishing, camping with friends and family, and many traveling trips. Early on they spent many a holiday at the Kings and Borchardt’s cottages in Annandale and later Sauk Lake in Sauk Center, plus many other fishing adventures in Minnesota and Canada spending time on the lakes scouting around looking for the best fishing spot.  In their later years playing cards, gaming, and socializing on a daily basis with family and friends was very important. Earl was an active member of St John Lutheran Church.

Visits from his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, were always welcoming and enlightening.  Along with other family and friends, many hours of laughter, memories and good times were formed on the farm and later once they had moved to their new home in Belle Plaine.

He is survived by his children: Kevin (Pam) Koepp of Belle Plaine, Daughter Cynthia (Dale) Gerholz of Gaylord, Curtis (Barbara) Koepp, of Belle Plaine, Kerry (Marcia) Koepp of Mankato. Fourteen Grandchildren and twenty-eight Great Grandchildren, Siblings: Armin (Irene) Koepp, Mary Koepp, Alverna Laabs, Wesley Koepp, Santa Rose Krenik, Lynette Koepp, Bill Koepp, and Janel Schmidt.

He is preceded in death by his wife Lorraine Koepp, daughter Sheila Mae, and parents Clarence and Ann Koepp. Rosella Koepp, Rodney Koepp, Frederick Koepp, LaVonne Koepp, Norman and wife Marilyn Koepp, and Gerhard Laabs.

A catered meal will follow the graveside Interment service of Earl and Lorraine at the St. John’s Lutheran Church fellowship hall. 

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