Carl William Epler

Carl William Epler passed away on Friday, June 9th, 2017 Carl was born on December 12th 1928 to H. Norwood and Mercedes (Harsin) Epler in Southport Indiana. He is survived by his wife of 60 years Sara (Bewley) Epler; son, David Carl Epler; daughter, Angela Epler Leary & husband, Greg. He was so very proud of his grandchildren; Amberly Louisa Epler (fiance Brandon Kimmey-Munoz), Keenan Wallace Leary and Quinn William Leary. Carl served as a WWII Civil Defense Corps air raid patrolman, riding his bike through the darkened streets of his community. As a senior in high school he was a starting point guard for the 1947 Indianapolis sectional high school basketball champion Southport Cardinals. Throughout high school and for a few years following, Carl owned milk routes with his dad for Mutual Milk Company. He later joined the US Army infantry division stationed at Ft. Benning, Georgia. Upon returning home, Carl joined the Indiana State Police on September 1st 1955 as a trooper in Brown County. As he advanced through the ranks, he worked in many different aspects. It was through the ISP training schools where he enjoyed instructing and leading hundreds of new recruits and forming life long friendships. He began working with the academy while it was housed at the Poplars in Bloomington, then through the building and opening of the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy in Plainfield. He later transitioned to appointments at the State Office Building and to Logistics at the Post Road facility. In 1978, Carl was appointed by Governor Otis Bowen the highest governmental honor a citizen of Indiana can receive, Sagamore of the Wabash. Carl retired as a Major in the ISP in early 1988. Carl and Sara met on New Years Eve 1956 and were married in August of 1957. They began married life in a cabin on Coffee Hill just outside Nashville, IN. In August on 1959, they welcomed Dave to the family. They have fond memories of great friends and great times during those years on Coffee Hill. In March of 1962, the family moved to the farm outside of Bean Blossom. That May, Angie completed the family of 4. Working side by side, Carl and his dad, Norwood, (and in later years, Dave) raised cattle, built and mended fences, cleared fields and baled thousands of bales of hay. Carl and Sara were always a team, they were all and more the kids could have ever asked for. As Carl spent the month of May every year working the Indiana State Police detail at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, son Dave accompanied him every weekend thus inspiring a lifelong love for motor racing. There wasn't a time in Carl's life that he did not have a pet and he instilled this love of animals in daughter, Angie. The last 30 years, Carl and Sara spent many happy hours combining their hobbies into garden railroading, building the new home on their farm, traveling and enjoying time spent with friends and family. Together they found a second home with Cottonwood Christian Church - who continue to support and comfort Sara. Visitation will be Monday, June 12th from 4pm-8pm with funeral services at 11am on Tuesday June 13th all at Bond-Mitchell Funeral Home,1682 State Road 135 North, Nashville, In. Interment following at Greenlawn Cemetery, Nashville Contributions may be made to Cottonwood Christian Church, 2523 W. Cottonwood Road, Morgantown IN 46160 or The American Cancer Society at cancer.org