Clifford Fred Henry Hoepker

Clifford Fred Henry Hoepker passed away on Monday December 15, 2025 at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis Missouri at age 101. He was born at home in Addieville, Illinois on June 23, 1924 to Walter and Lillie Hoepker.

His childhood was spent living on a farm with his parents and two sisters. He grew up during the great depression and knew hard times. Being the only boy, he was counted on to do the work of an older child, it left him with a strong work ethic that served him a lifetime. He went to several one room schoolhouses. One day he decided to memorize the alphabet backwards. Even at age 100, he still took great pride in rattling off the alphabet, in reverse order, to his great grandchildren. He attended Nashville High School and was a member of the class of 1942.

He was called up to serve in World War 2 and joined the Navy. He reported to Great Lakes Naval Station in January 1944 and was trained as a radar specialist. He was assigned to serve on USS LST-680. The LST-680 crew earned three battle stars for their World War II service. After his discharge from the Navy, he returned home and briefly worked as a truck driver before attending Bailey Technical School in St. Louis studying heating and cooling. While in St. Louis, he interviewed for a job at Graybar Electric Company and was hired. It was there he met a very pretty and strong willed girl, Florence Finley. They dated for a year and were married in Maryland on February 9, 1953. They moved to Belleville, Illinois where Clifford worked and Florence raised their five children. Clifford retired from Graybar Electric Company after 32 years of service.

After retirement, Clifford enjoyed wood working, home improvement, fix-it projects and spending time in the woods where he designed and built his own cabin from scratch. His marriage to Florence lasted 62 years, until she passed October 8, 2015. After Florence’s passing, Clifford sharpened his culinary and homemaking skills and learned to enjoy cooking and baking, but not laundry. He remained in relatively good health, with a sharp mind, living independently into his 100s.

He was preceded in death by his wife Florence Hoepker, his parents Walter and Lillie (née Garlich) Hoepker, his sisters Leola (Owen) Lehde and Velva Shubert. His brothers-in-law Jess (Fern) Finley, Chester Finley, Tom Finley, Roy (Doris) Finley, Bob (Wilma) Finley. His sisters-in-law Ruth (Walter) Miller, Leona (Roy) Damke and Flora (Dick) Lieser.

He is survived by his children Joe (Denise) Hoepker, Nancy (John) Thomas, Mark (Karen) Hoepker, Charlie (Tina Schwellensattl) Hoepker and Becky (Dan) Luebbert. His 11 grandchildren, Matthew (Christian) Hoepker, Allison (Kyle)

Lauer, Sarah (Tyler Chambers) Johnson, David Thomas, Christopher (Victoria) Thomas, Stephanie (Evan) Magouirk, Lauren (Jon) Synarong, Katie (Grant Murphy) Hoepker, Adam (Ashley) Hoepker, Jake (Josie Soto) Luebbert, Nick Luebbert and 17 great grandchildren, h is brothers-in-law John (Cathy) Finley, Jim (Mary) Finley, sisters-in-law Kate Finley and Jeanne Stretch and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank Gwen and Carolyn from Family Hospice for caring for Clifford the past several months.

Funeral Services will be held at Lakeview Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens in Fairview Heights, Illinois on Saturday December 27, 2025. Visitation will be between 9:00 and 11:00 with a Memorial Service at 11:00.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be submitted to the Addieville Community Club.