Obituary for John Richard Koepp
LEBANON SPRINGS – John Richard Koepp, 80, died peacefully at his home on Koepp Lane with his devoted wife Terrianne by his side.
John was born in Pittsfield, MA on September 7, 1941, the son of the late C. Edward and Lucretia Roberts Koepp. John was a lifelong resident of Lebanon
Springs and was a graduate of New Lebanon Central School, class of 1960. He later attended SUNY Cobleskill for one year.
He was a US Navy Disabled American Veteran of the Vietnam War serving as an E-5 electrician from 1961-1965.
John was employed by Western Electric in Schenectady, General Electric in Pittsfield and by Gideon Equipment in West Lebanon as a mechanic from 1980-2000 before retiring.
John also served as the superintendent of the Cemetery of the Evergreens in New Lebanon for 20 years. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Lebanon Springs where he served as a Deacon, Trustee, DVBS Director & Teacher, Sunday School Teacher and Church Bus Driver.
John was a huge railroad buff and for his 25th and 35th wedding anniversaries, John and Terrianne took train trips across the USA and Canada.
He is the beloved husband of over 54 years of Terrianne Lawlor Koepp; brother of Barbara (Cliff) Liese of Novi, MI and Robert E. Koepp of New Lebanon; uncle of Dean and Brian Koepp and Matthew Fahrenkrug.
He also was the surrogate father and grandfather of many local children that came through the Rainbows End Day Care that Terrianne and John ran for 33 years in Lebanon Springs.
The funeral service to which family and friends are invited will be Saturday, September 3rd at 10:00 am at the First Baptist Church of Lebanon Springs, 31 Main Street, Lebanon Springs with Pastors Larry Markowski, Chuck Mosher and Trygve Tomlinson officiating. Following the service, relatives and friends are invited to gather around John’s refurbished flag pole at his home for military honors in honor of John’s service to our country during the Vietnam War.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The First Baptist Church of Lebanon Springs Mission Program (which includes the Capital City Mission of Albany), 31 Main Street, Lebanon Springs, NY 12125.
Arrangements are by the Hall & Higgins Funeral Home in Stephentown. Condolence book at ParkerBrosMemorial.com.
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John Richard Koepp’s train left the Lebanon Springs station adorned with flowers and headed for the Pearly Gates sometime overnight 30AUG2022. We figured that was him on the 02:39 call when the phone rang once. There will be no passengers from among us her aboard, but his carloads of relatives, good friends, former daycare kids, railroading enthusiasts and US Navy shipmates will be many.
Angels lined the route. The dogs Umay, Ginger, Maggie and Woody are allowed on the seats on this train. The Engineer has no need of a fireman, fire or fuel on this trip. Speed is infinite, ever upward and homeward bound. I can see the clouds surrounding the departure, but the Sun is blinding as the train disappears over the locust tree in the yard, eastward bound just above Lebanon’s Shaker Mountain. No stops on this line and all tolls paid in full. The track is clear and the cargo is hope and love and respect and gratitude. There is no need to fear delay or derailment.
The Engineer and Johnnie in the cab are laughing…talking about past trips they and Terrianne have enjoyed together. Be we all know this is an adventure they have been planning and looking forward to together for four score years. No arrival time is on the ticket, issued decades ago and collected today-but none is needed. The destination was never in doubt. John is already there. Finished with Engines / may we all have as glorious a final ride in our futures as John enjoyed today.
Written with love by one of John's many friends Tony Winig (TW)
John was born in Pittsfield, MA on September 7, 1941, the son of the late C. Edward and Lucretia Roberts Koepp. John was a lifelong resident of Lebanon
Springs and was a graduate of New Lebanon Central School, class of 1960. He later attended SUNY Cobleskill for one year.
He was a US Navy Disabled American Veteran of the Vietnam War serving as an E-5 electrician from 1961-1965.
John was employed by Western Electric in Schenectady, General Electric in Pittsfield and by Gideon Equipment in West Lebanon as a mechanic from 1980-2000 before retiring.
John also served as the superintendent of the Cemetery of the Evergreens in New Lebanon for 20 years. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Lebanon Springs where he served as a Deacon, Trustee, DVBS Director & Teacher, Sunday School Teacher and Church Bus Driver.
John was a huge railroad buff and for his 25th and 35th wedding anniversaries, John and Terrianne took train trips across the USA and Canada.
He is the beloved husband of over 54 years of Terrianne Lawlor Koepp; brother of Barbara (Cliff) Liese of Novi, MI and Robert E. Koepp of New Lebanon; uncle of Dean and Brian Koepp and Matthew Fahrenkrug.
He also was the surrogate father and grandfather of many local children that came through the Rainbows End Day Care that Terrianne and John ran for 33 years in Lebanon Springs.
The funeral service to which family and friends are invited will be Saturday, September 3rd at 10:00 am at the First Baptist Church of Lebanon Springs, 31 Main Street, Lebanon Springs with Pastors Larry Markowski, Chuck Mosher and Trygve Tomlinson officiating. Following the service, relatives and friends are invited to gather around John’s refurbished flag pole at his home for military honors in honor of John’s service to our country during the Vietnam War.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The First Baptist Church of Lebanon Springs Mission Program (which includes the Capital City Mission of Albany), 31 Main Street, Lebanon Springs, NY 12125.
Arrangements are by the Hall & Higgins Funeral Home in Stephentown. Condolence book at ParkerBrosMemorial.com.
*******************************************************************************************
John Richard Koepp’s train left the Lebanon Springs station adorned with flowers and headed for the Pearly Gates sometime overnight 30AUG2022. We figured that was him on the 02:39 call when the phone rang once. There will be no passengers from among us her aboard, but his carloads of relatives, good friends, former daycare kids, railroading enthusiasts and US Navy shipmates will be many.
Angels lined the route. The dogs Umay, Ginger, Maggie and Woody are allowed on the seats on this train. The Engineer has no need of a fireman, fire or fuel on this trip. Speed is infinite, ever upward and homeward bound. I can see the clouds surrounding the departure, but the Sun is blinding as the train disappears over the locust tree in the yard, eastward bound just above Lebanon’s Shaker Mountain. No stops on this line and all tolls paid in full. The track is clear and the cargo is hope and love and respect and gratitude. There is no need to fear delay or derailment.
The Engineer and Johnnie in the cab are laughing…talking about past trips they and Terrianne have enjoyed together. Be we all know this is an adventure they have been planning and looking forward to together for four score years. No arrival time is on the ticket, issued decades ago and collected today-but none is needed. The destination was never in doubt. John is already there. Finished with Engines / may we all have as glorious a final ride in our futures as John enjoyed today.
Written with love by one of John's many friends Tony Winig (TW)