Edward E. Eppele

Edward E. Eppele, age 85, of Fort Wayne, passed away at Golden Years Homestead on Wednesday, May 18, 2022. Born in Cleveland, Ohio on August 15, 1936, he was the only child of Edward and Esther (Schwandt) Eppele. While earning an Associate’s degree at Bowling Green State University, Edward met the love of his life Caryl (Burch) in 1955. He honorably served his country, joining the United States Marine Corps in 1958. For the following two years, he served as a Marine and married Caryl on June 6, 1959. They spent the next 63 years building a life together and raising a family. For many years, he enjoyed tent camping, traveling across the United States with the children in the back seat of the car. He and Caryl were proud of their large garden and it was a family project to grow a variety of vegetables, herbs, flowers and fruit. Edward attended Columbia Bible College and earned a Bachelor’s of Biblical Education. Edward and Caryl spent time working together when they served as house parents for the Eliada Home for Children in Asheville, North Carolina. He volunteered as a Scoutmaster for the Boy Scouts of America in his free time when Tim participated in scouting and again when John was an active Boy Scout. In the late 1960s, he and Caryl became missionary candidates with The Evangelical Alliance Mission (TEAM) with a desire to teach missionary children in Venezuela. Ed enjoyed a long career as an automotive engineer with Essex Group/United Technologies from 1973 until he retired in the late 1990s. Edward valued education: While working full-time he pursued further certification by attending night school, and in 1985, obtained a second Associate’s degree in mechanical engineering from Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne. He served with the local chapter of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) for many years and was proud to be a civic volunteer working the polls in Fort Wayne through many election cycles. Edward was a devout Christian and an active member of Headwaters Church (formerly Wallen Baptist Church) for many years. After retiring, he went on to serve as a substitute teacher. He and Caryl also delighted in a retirement trip they’d long dreamed about to Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick. Edward is survived by his wife, Caryl Eppele; children, Timothy (Laudina van Putten) Eppele Sr., Ruth (Mark Dickens) Eppele Dickens, Esther (Michael Harris) Eppele and John (Katherine Willborn) Eppele; grandchildren, Timothy Eppele, Jr., Alex Kramer, Yaqub Dickens, Talitha Dickens, and Charles Eppele; his great-grandchild, Kyle; and his cousin Yolanda (Thomas) Morgan. He was preceded in death by his parents. A funeral service for Edward will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 24, 2022 at Hockemeyer & Miller Funeral Home, 6131 Saint Joe Road, Fort Wayne with a gathering of family and friends one hour prior. He will be laid to rest at a later date in a private ceremony. Memorials may be made to Parkview Hospice or Mothers Against Drunk Driving (M.A.D.D.) in Edward’s name. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be left at www.hockemeyermillerfh.com for the Eppele family.