Michael Albert Koepl Sr.

Age 64, of Schererville, Indiana, passed away May 27, 2010 peacefully with his entire family by his side. He was born Tuesday, March 26, 1946 in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin to Evelyn and the Late Albert. He is preceeded in death by his grandparents, his father Albert, his niece Autumn Dawn, his best friends Ronald Rogers and Howard Hatton, his Father-in-Law Robert William Wiberg Sr. and Mother-in-Law Gladys Marie (Carlson) Wiberg, his cousin Joanne Koepl, his Aunts and Uncles Norbert and Rita Overhage, Heinrich and Elizabeth Koepl, Edward Koepl, George and Viola Koepl, Marcella and John Nondorf. He is survived by his wife and soul mate Patricia, his accomplished daughter Angelica (Michael) Zych, his namesake and prized son Michael Jr., his wonderful grandson Aaron. His mother, Evelyn, Aunt Marie Frances Koepl, Uncle Joseph (Marylou) Overhage, his brothers John (Joanne) Koepl, Ronald (Cathy) Koepl, Thomas Koepl, his sisters, Marilyn (James) Thiel, Marge (Richard) Mills, Marcy (Thomas) Cooper, RoseMarie (Ronald) Jones, his nieces Kelly (Martin) Ryan, Kari (Patrick) Lothian, Leslie, Madison, his nephews Richard (Joanna), Robb (Kellee), Craig, Marc, Jason, Kenny, Justin (Gina), Kevin (Amanda) and great nieces Kayla, Brianna, Bailey and great nephews Mitchell, Braden, Dawson, Darian and three very close spiritual friends Father Mick Kopil, Sr. Bonnie and Sr. Eileen, his brothers from Vietnam Bernard Ducat and Vellar Clark, long time employer Oliver King, and Barb Rogers.

Mike attended elementary school at Saint Josephs School and Dyer High School (1964) in Dyer. He worked at the gas station on the Illinois line in Dyer before serving in the United States Air Force 1967 – 1972, was in the Vietnam War (Phu-Cat) during the TET Offensive 1967-1968. After returning home he was employed at Midwest Pipe coating and worked with his future brother in law, Howard. In 1970, he met and proposed to his wife of 39 wonderful years. He worked alongside his father as an electrician and was a member of IBEW Local 697 for 33 years. Mike was a devoted family man and was a true romantic. September 2004, he was diagnosed with bladder cancer and underwent surgery. He was cancer free 5-1/2 years before getting a second diagnosis of terminal colon cancer. Family and friends may gather on Tuesday, June 1, 2010 from 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Chapel Lawn Funeral Home 8178 Cline Avenue Schererville, IN. Family and Friends are to meet directly at St. Michael’s Catholic Church for Mass of Christian burial on Wednesday 11:00 AM. Interment chapel Lawn Memorial Gardens. Memorials in Michael’s name may be made to William J. Riley Hospice.