Martha M. Koepke
Posted By Ballard Sunder Funeral Home On June 5, 2015 @ 12:16 pm In 2015,Obituaries | 21 Comments
Martha M. Koepke, of Shakopee (formerly of Oklee) passed away unexpectedly the evening of June 4, 2015. A visitation will be held on Monday, June 8, 2015 from 4:00 – 7:00 PM and again on Tuesday, June 9, 2015 from 9:30 – 10:30 AM at Ballard-Sunder Funeral & Cremation in Shakopee. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, June 9, 2015 at 11:00 AM at the Parish of St. Joachim and Anne, St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Shakopee. Father Peter Wittman will preside. Norbert Hennen, Kevin Wagener, Ken Langeslag, Corey Mathiesen, Matt Hennen and Shawn Wagener will act as pall bearers.
It was a beautiful summer day in Oklee, MN on July 2, 1940 when Leo and Frances (Brennen) Klasen celebrated the birth of their beautiful baby girl, Martha Marie Klasen. Martha enjoyed growing up in the country where she was able to have lots of pets. As a girl, Martha loved spending time with her Horse, Dolly. She also cared for a colt, dog (Tippy), and wild raccoon named Ring, who would come and go as he pleased, but always took a liking to Martha.
She attended and graduated from Oklee High School in 1958. The summer after high school she began working at Borden’s Potato House. It was there that she met a handsome young man named, Don Koepke. Martha and Don hit it off immediately, and their love grew quickly. They moved to Grand Forks and were married by the Justice of the Peace on September 18, 1959. Martha and Don later renewed their wedding vows, and their marriage was blessed by the Catholic Church. As newlyweds they moved around a bit before settling in Missouri. They were blessed with five wonderful children, Robert, Don Jr., Karen, Kathy and Lori.
As a family they loved camping, fishing and traveling together. They took many road trips up north to Minnesota to visit family. Throughout the years, Martha and Don also visited Colorado, Tennessee, and spent an entire winter in Texas visiting family.
While living in Missouri, Martha went to cosmetology school and became a beautician. She had her own shop, Martha’s Beauty Salon which she ran for many, many years. When their family moved back to Minnesota in 1981, Martha and Don once again found themselves working together doing apartment maintenance and management. Throughout the years Martha had many jobs, but Martha was most proud of the work she did as an advocate at Southern Valley Alliance for Battered Women and at Stafford Recovery Center. Martha had a servant’s heart and was always helping others. She volunteered for crisis hotlines, donated her time at the women’s prison in Shakopee, and offered her home as a refuge for battered women when they had nowhere else to go.
Martha retired at the age of 62, but she never slowed down. She loved playing cards, doing puzzles, reading books (especially Daniel Steele romance novels) and playing computer games. Martha also enjoyed gardening and often canned her own vegetables. She was a wonderful cook, famous for her apple sauce bread pudding, caramel rolls, cocoa mound (haystack) cookies and date balls.
Martha was a genuine optimist. She believed in the good of people, and was always there to pick you up if you were down. Martha will be deeply missed and remembered always by her loving husband, Don Koepke; children, Robert (Terry) Koepke, Don Jr. (Roxy) Koepke, Karen (Ken Langeslag) Barber, Kathy (Norbert) Hennen, Lori (Kevin) Wagener; 14 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; sister, Mary (Gary) Baggenstoss; other loving relatives and many dear friends. Martha will be greeted in Heaven by her parents Leo and Frances.
Martha’s family would like to extend a special thank you to Minister Rahsaan Krutch who anointed Martha and prayed with family members. Thank you to family and friends for their continued support and compassion during this difficult time.
The Koepke family is served with honor, care and compassion by Ballard-Sunder Funeral & Cremation.
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My sympathy goes out to all of Don and Martha’s family.
I’m so sorry for your tremendous loss! I will always remember her constant smile.
My prayers and sympathy to you all.
So sorry for your loss.
So sorry for your loss,
May the Lord comfort you and your family and God bless.
I have many memories of good times we had togather. Will miss her.
Sorry for your lost. Our thoughts and prayers are with you always and especially now in this difficult time.
My prayers are with you family! I am truly sorry for your loss and I know Jesus can and will give you peace during this time!!!! I will have you all in my prayers looking for the confirmation of peace.
So sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. She was a great friend and sister-in-law. I will remember all the good times we had and the memories of her. I will miss her very much.
Lori, Please accept my most heartfelt sympathies for the loss of your Mother. She sounds like a wonderful person and it would have been a pleasure to have met her. My thoughts are with you and your family during this difficult time.
For my coworker, Kathy, and her family. Praying for the peace and understanding that only Jesus can and will provide. Cherish the good memories of your mom. You have my sympathy – take good care of each other.
Our very deepest sympathy and prayers for Don and the children for the passing of their beloved Wife and Mother. She was a most special lady and we loved her and always will ! We personally do not know what we would have done without her in our lives !!!
Kathy, I am so sorry to hear the sad news about your Mom. Although I’m many many miles away I hope you know that you and your family will be in our hearts and prayers. I will be sending you hugs.
So Sorry Lori- Praying you and your family feel Gods comfort during this hard time. Sound like your mama was storing up treasures in Heaven when she was here with all the serving she did. She left quite a legacy. A good example to follow.
Sorry for your loss. Everything is a little hetic here and when I think to call it is late. She was a special lady with many special memories
Jr & Carol
Keeping you and your family in my prayers. Your mother’s story is a special one, may you treasure her in your heart in the years ahead.
So sorry to hear about Martha’s passing. The letter was a wonderful tribute to her. We were classmates and attended some of the reunions together. We will miss her and prayers go out to her family
Condolences to Martha’s family. I remember Martha as always being upbeat and never feeling sorry for herself. Your tribute to Martha is right on. God has left you with many wonderful memories. A high school classmate.
I am so sorry to hear of Martha’s passing. We were classmates for 12 years at Oklee Grade School and High School. Martha was always very kind and compassionate. She will be missed, but rest assured, she is in Heaven with Our Lord and Savior. I am sure the family has many wonderful memories to cherish.
Martha was a friend through out elementary and high school. It was a delight to visit with her at a class reunion. Her tribute says so much about who she was, my sympathy to all her family. May Faith and Memories sustain you at this time.
My sympathy to Don and family, may Faith and Memories sustain you at this difficult time. Martha’s obituary tells her story,she was a loving and giving woman. We were classmates for twelve years.
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We are sorry to hear of your loss may God be with you.