Steven Albert Koepsell

Steven moved with his family back to South Dakota in 1957 and grew up in Brookings, South Dakota where he attended elementary, middle, and high school graduating from Brookings High School in 1971. Steven attended South Dakota State University and graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering.

He passed his EIT and Professional Engineering (PE) certification tests and became a registered PE. After an initial engineering position at SDSU, Steven got a job as a Navy engineer/civil servant working at Pensacola Naval Air Station in Florida. That first assignment led to an overseas assignment to Subic Bay Naval Base in the Philippines.

While working at Subic Bay Steven met Jean Chin in Olongapo, Philippines in 1990. They had their first date on New Year’s Day 1991. Jean was manager of a small restaurant/bar named Blue Jeans. While serving in Subic Bay, Mount Pinatubo erupted and destroyed much of the area and the Navy chose to withdraw from Subic Bay. Steven was tasked with helping extract the Navy from the base and was transferred back to the United States in Bremerton, Washington.

After a short stay, he had the opportunity to return to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in Japan in 1994. After 2 years at Iwakuni, Steven moved to Yokosuka Navy Base where he served until 2014 before retiring from the civil service.

During his career with the Navy, he became an honorary Chief Petty Officer. While at Yokosuka, Steven and Jean married on July 4, 1997, in the San Lorenzo Ruiz Parish Church in Dao, Pampango, Philippines. Shortly after, Steven adopted Michille in 1997.

Retirement brought Steven and Jean back to Pensacola. They enjoyed a life of travel and visiting their growing family with the marriage of Michille to Raniel and the arrival of grandchildren Ronald, Raelin, and Ramiel. Steven and Jean loved driving across the country to visit his family while they began their Naval career and life.

Driving literally thousands of miles was a normal trip for him and stopping at almost any historical museum or presidential library or national parks or even more out of the way places was his usual trip. Their travels brought them from California to Europe. Steven always had his South Dakota family in mind with trips back to Brookings for many holidays and events.

Steven loved his Ford Mustang convertible and his 1965 Chevy Impala convertible. He rebuilt the Impala engine while he was in college and drove the yellow car in the SDSU Hobo Day parade. He briefly supported a boat racing team that traveled to high-speed boat racing events across the south and Midwest.

He was a member of the local Brookings BPOE chapter and rose to the level of Grand Exalted Ruler of the chapter. Steven attended the First Presbyterian Church in Brookings with his family and was confirmed as a member of the church. He also attended Little Flower Catholic Church in Pensacola with his wife, Jean.

Steven helped acclimate Jean to the United States quite literally with trips to South Dakota in the winter and Jean acclimated Steven to Philippine culture. Steven visited Jean’s Mother and family in the Philippines several times.

Steven’s personal and professional life brought him many friends and acquaintances across the country. He was proud to be an engineer and loved his family.

Steven is lovingly remembered by his wife, Jean; daughter, Michille Koepsell Reyes and her husband, Raniel, Iwakuni, Japan, his grandchildren, Ronald, Raelin, and Ramiel; his mother, Delores Koepsell, Brookings, SD; brother, Royal (Lori), Fort Collins, CO; his sister, Pam Koepsell, Sioux Falls, SD; his aunt, Iona Powers, Sioux Falls, SD; and nieces, Adrienne (Eric), and Greta (Jake) and their families.

He was preceded in death by his father, Paul, and his maternal and paternal grandparents.

In lieu of flowers, consider donations to a charity of your choice in Steven’s memory.