A celebration of the life of Paul H. Kepple will be held at First Presbyterian Church on Monday, Oct. 19, 2009, at 11 a.m. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Interment will be private at Graceland Cemetery.
Paul Henry Kepple died on Oct. 16, 2009, at the age of 91. He was born Nov. 26, 1917, in Davis, S.D., the oldest child and first born son of Lloyd Glenn Kepple and Florence Walleser Kepple. The family moved to Albert Lea in November of 1934, and Paul called Albert Lea home for the next 75 years, leaving only to earn his college degree and to serve his country during World War II as a naval aviator.
Paul graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1935 and from the University of Minnesota in 1941. Upon graduation, he joined the U.S. Navy and enrolled in the U.S. Navy Aviation Training Program. He was one of sixteen members of the first night fighter squadron of World War II, VFN 76, which flew the F6F Grumman Hellcat off aircraft carriers in the Pacific. It was during his war years that Paul developed his life-long love of flying.
Upon his discharge, Paul returned to Albert Lea and worked with his father in the Kepple Implement Company on South Broadway, selling and servicing Oliver and New Idea tractors and other farm implements. He and Hazel Wittman were married Oct. 27, 1948. In 1958, Paul purchased the Clarks Grove Hardware and Implement Company, which he operated for the next 40 years.
Paul was a 75-year member of First Presbyterian Church in Albert Lea, where he was a member of and tenor soloist in the Chancel Choir. Paul also sang extensively in the community at weddings, funerals and in barbershop groups. He enjoyed tennis (which he played into his 70’s), sailing, fishing trips to Canada and playing his guitar.
Paul is survived by his wife of 61 years, Hazel, and three children: Lloyd Glenn Kepple II (Karen) of Mahtomedi and their children Kate and Ben; Jane Kepple Johnson (Peter) of Albert Lea and their children Scott, Sarah and Paul; and Anne Kepple (Marcelo Borba) of Rio Claro, Brazil, and their children Tomas Kepple Borba and Leo Kepple Borba. He is also survived by his two brothers, William Kepple (Marge) and John Kepple (Esme), as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorials may be directed to First Presbyterian Church, Freeborn County Historical Museum and Crossroads Community Hospice.