Bernhardt Koeppen

Bernhardt “Butch” Koeppen, age 90, of Milford, passed away on Friday August 5, 2016 at his home. Funeral services will be 11 AM Tuesday at Schuchert-Lentz funeral home, with military rites conducted by the V.F.W. Post #4514 and the American Legion Post #23 of Spirit Lake. Visitation will be 9:00 AM until service time on Tuesday. Bernhardt Hans Koeppen, the son of William and Frieda (Guldensupp) Koeppen, was born on January 19, 1926 on a farm north Galva, Iowa. He attended country school in Galva Township. Butch was drafted in the U.S. Army on August 10, 1954 and was honorably discharged on June 29, 1956. After serving in the Army, he moved to South Dakota where he met his wife. On December 28, 1963 Butch was united in marriage with Monica Van Steenberg at St. Kevin Catholic Church in Minneapolis, MN. In 1969, they moved back to Iowa and Butch managed D&R Farm Co. in Moville. In 1979, they moved to Holstein where Butch worked for Ludvigson Cattle Co. until he retired in 1988. Butch had been a member of the Silver Creek Township Church, Lucky Riders Club and a Boy Scout Leader. He worked with cattle all of his life. Butch enjoyed farming, riding horseback and wrestling cattle. He loved being with his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Butch was a hard working man and he will be missed by all. Left to cherish Butch’s memory is his wife of 52 years, Monica; three sons, Kevin (Kelli) Koeppen of Ashland, KY, Kenneth Koeppen of Okoboji and Keith Koeppen of Lewisberry, PA; five grandchildren, Bradley, Abigail, Nicholas, Anthony and Dayton Koeppen; two step grandchildren, Meredith and Michael Marcum; a great granddaughter, Shylo; a step great granddaughter, Taegan; a sister, Virginia Smith of Sabastian, TX; two brothers, Dean Koeppen, South Sioux City, NE and Glen (Carol) Koeppen of Colorado; sister-in-laws, Dorothy Koeppen of Minneapolis, MN, Lila Bulygo of Bloomington, MN, Barbara McCarthy of Clear Lake, SD, Rita (Marv) Dwinell of Henderson, NV and Romona Kelley of Hamburg, AK; brother-in-laws, Gus (Virgina) Van Steenberg of San Antonio, TX and Leo (Pat) Van Steenberg of Chesapeek, OH; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; grandparents; brothers, Erick (Fern) Koeppen, Harlan (Leona) Koeppen and Harold Koeppen; sister-in-laws, Mabel Koeppen, Marie (Pat) Flanery, Marcia Van Steenberg and Virginia Hagen; brother-in-laws, Frank Smith and J.T. Kelley; mother and father-in-law, Emil and Anna Van Steenberg.

Bernhardt Koeppen

January 19, 1926 - August 5, 2016