Robert J. Hepler

April 28, 1930-June 17, 1999

GOSHEN Robert John Hepler, 69, of 19741 Peach Lane, died Thursday evening in the Goshen General Hospital Emergency Room. He was born in South Bend, Ind., on April 28, 1930 to A.N. and Dorothy (Malmberg) Hepler.

On June 9, 1951 he married Martha Pease in South Bend. He is survived by his wife; a daughter, Mrs. Susan Yoder of Goshen, Ind.; a son, Robert Hepler, Jr.; two brothers, A.N. Hepler III of Nokomis, Fla. and William Hepler of Minneapolis, Minn.; and by five grandchildren.

He was senior partner of Hepler, Saunders, Barker and Colbus, LLP, and a member of the First Presbyterian Church, both of Goshen.

His memberships included the following: 33 Degree Mason, Demolay (Masonic youth organization), National Director of the 33 degree Masons, Elkhart County Fair Board for 30 years, of which he was recognized in 1996, in 1994, he was entered into the Hall of Fame of the Indiana Association of County and District Fairs, Shriners, 1948 graduate of Central High School, South Bend, 1952 graduate of Wabash College, 1955 graduate of Notre Dame Law School, where he received his Doctorate of Jurors Prudence, and a member of National Association of Elder Law Attorneys.

In 1971, he was a Big 10 football referee for the Rose Bowl. He served as a Big 10 official for 13 years. He also was an Indiana Hall of Famer. He received the Sagamore of the Wabash Award on August 23, 1981, which was presented by Gov. Robert D. Orr.

Visitation will be today from 6 to 8 p.m. and on Monday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at the Rieth-Rohrer-Ehret Funeral Home, Goshen. Services will be on Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. in the First Presbyterian Church, Goshen, where he will lie in state one hour prior to service. Dr. Henry Blunk and Dr. Andrew Hardie will officiate the services. Burial will be at Violett Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the First Presbyterian Church or Youth for Christ or the Indiana Football Hall of Fame, Richmond, Indiana.

Source: Newspapers.com

03/28/2024 EJS