Douglas Thorstein Koepp Douglas Thorstein ("Butch") Koepp was born August 24, 1943, in Clarkfield, Minnesota, to parents Reuben L. and Alma M. (Thorsteinson) Koepp. He was baptized and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church, Tyro Township. He graduated from Clarkfield High School in 1961, and then attended Willmar Vocational College in Willmar, Minnesota. He married Nancy B. Blair on October 27, 1963, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in rural Appleton, Minnesota, and they made their home in Willmar. This union blessed them with two children: Darcy B. Koepp and Stacy B. (Koepp) Pollock. He was a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church, Willmar, where over the years he served as elder, usher, parish planning council and voters assembly. Butch loved Nascar racing, hunting, riding motorcycle, four wheeling, bicycling and flying. He especially loved bear hunting which was a passion he shared with his children, grandchildren, brother, nephews and several friends. He looked forward to and planned the Big Falls, Minnesota, trip all year long. He has harvested many black bear over the years, but none have meant as much to him as being able to watch his boys Darcy, Tim, Kody, Seth and even good friend, Bruce harvest their first bears. As an Avid Harley rider Butch has not missed a single Sturgis Motorcycle Rally since he started going in the early 70s. He has taken this trip with numerous friends and family over the years leaving us many memories to cherish. Butch was a GM service manager for over 20 years working for Swenson Motors, Heintz Motors, and Fenton Motor. His hobby of flying became his career in the late 80s. In addition to flying he gave flight instruction and was a flight examiner. He worked out of the state on occasion doing various types of flying such as air ambulance and cloud seeding. Most recently he had been working on starting a local air ambulance business. At the time of Butch's unexpected death he was spending a day that he had been looking forward to for months and that was being "home" at the farm in Boyd with his family and visiting Sonoma Koepps from California. He passed away on Saturday, June 19, 2010, at Johnson Memorial Hospital, Dawson, Minnesota, at the age of 66 years, 10 months and 19 days. His unique character, love and support will be missed by all. He is survived by his wife, Nancy; daughter Stacy and her husband Tim Pollock; Grandchildren: Kody Koepp and Bethany and Seth Pollock all of Willmar. Also surviving are his siblings: Deanna (Alfred) Jessen, Boyd, Minnesota, Bruce (Georgie) Koepp, Sonoma, California, Kathy (Bill) Jahn, Boyd, Minnesota, Greg (Sandy) Koepp, Boyd, Minnesota, Todd (Le) Koepp, Livermore, California; sisters-in-law: Judy (Milton) Nybakke, Sauk Rapids, Minnesota, Joanie Wente, Appleton, Minnesota, and Rebecca Frederickson, Amery, Wisconsin; besides many nieces, nephews and friends. He was preceded in death by his father Reuben in 1976, his son Darcy in 2000, and his mother Alma in 2001. Visitation Tuesday, June 22, 2010 ~ 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Prayer Service 7:30 p.m. ~ Redeemer Lutheran Church Funeral Service Wednesday, June 23, 2010 ~ 10:30 a.m. Redeemer Lutheran Church, Willmar, Minnesota Officiating, Pastor Joel Koepp Organist, Marlene Kubasch Congregational Hymns "God's Own Child I Gladly Say It" "When Peace, like a River" "Go, My Children, with My Blessing" Soloist Casket Bearers (Doug's nephews) Scott Jessen ~ Mark Jessen ~ Neil Jessen Eric Jahn ~ Bernard Jahn ~ Patrick Jahn Kyle Jahn ~ Paul Jahn ~ Manoa Koepp Jon Koepp ~ Joshua Koepp ~ Robert Koepp Final Resting Place Zion Lutheran Cemetery-Tyro Township Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota Arrangements by Lynner Funeral Home