Funeral services for the Rev. Donald M. Schoeppler, age 78, of Freeborn will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at West Freeborn Lutheran Church. The Rev. Dennis Frank will officiate. Interment will be at West Freeborn Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday with prayer service and video tribute at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church.
Donald died Thursday, Jan. 15, 2009 at Albert Lea Medical Center following a lengthy illness.
The Rev. Donald M. Schoeppler was born on Feb. 13, 1930 at University Hospital, Minneapolis to Ira and Hazel (Holcomb) Schoeppler. He was baptized Sept. 14, 1930. Donald was confirmed April 2, 1944 at Redeemer Lutheran Church, rural Henderson. 
Donald suffered many medical challenges throughout his life. He lost his leg in 1949 at age 19. He had Polio in 1956 and cancer in 2001 and chronic pulmonary disease in 2007. Throughout his life he was an inspiration to all who knew him. His courageous battle with cancer lasted seven years. 
He studied and completed his high school by correspondence from American School, Chicago, Ill. Donald completed his Bachelor of Arts degree from Wartburg College, Waverly, Iowa in 1963. He entered Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa. Donald received his Bachelor of Divinity Degree in 1966. Donald served First Lutheran Church in McGregor, Iowa as a student Pastor for one and a half years during the latter part of his studies at Wartburg Seminary. He was ordained into Lutheran Ministry in 1966 at Redeemer Lutheran Church in rural Henderson. Then, Don served Evangelical Lutheran congregations at Christ Lutheran, Pickrell, Neb., Immanuel Lutheran, Coleridge, Neb., Immanuel Lutheran, Fulda, and St. Luke Lutheran, Traer, Iowa. He devoted 30 years of his life to pastoral ministry.
Donald married Marjorie Thofson on June 8, 1957 at Hartland Lutheran Church, Hartland. They observed their 50th wedding anniversary in 2007.
Donald had a special love for his students in sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grades. He was a compassionate pastor, faithful preacher and teacher of the Gospel. He retired in June of 1995. This gave him the opportunity to play his keyboard, to fish and do gardening.
“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Servant.” Donald will be greatly missed. 
Survivors include his wife, Marjorie; son, Kevin (Carol) Schoeppler of West Des Moines, Iowa; daughter, Rita Rae of St. Paul; and her children, Carl and Amber Honeycutt, St. Paul; sister, Palma (Elroy) Winter, of Green Isle; brothers-in-law, Verlyn (Kristi) Thofson, and Virgil (Arlene) Thofson both of Hartland.
Donald was preceded in death by his parents; parents-in-law, Hamilton and Esther Thofson, brothers-in-law, Donald Thofson and Earl Thofson; and sister-in-law, Mildred Thofson
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to West Freeborn Lutheran Church, rural Hartland.