Ralph William Joppien, 87, of Mulberry, died March 8, 2009, at Savannah Court in Bartow.
Born Aug. 27, 1921, in Hamburg, Germany, Mr. Joppien immigrated to the United States at the age of 5 with his parents.
He served in the U.S. Navy in World War II on the U.S.S. Independence, an aircraft carrier. Petty Officer First Class Joppien received an Honor Certificate for saving the lives of numberous shipmates when the carrier was torpedoed by the Japanese.
Mr. Joppien has been a resident of Bartow and Mulberry for several years, moving from Port St. Lucie.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Irene E. Bock Joppien; his parents, William E. and Martha Drose Joppien; a son, Thomas J. Joppien; and a grandaughter, Kimberly J. Joppien.
Survivors include a son, William R. (Patricia) Joppien of Mulberry; a daughter-in-law, Patricia Herremans Joppien of Savannah, Ga.; four grandchildren, Brenda, William Jr., Tricia, and Debbie; and nine great-grandchildren.
Visitation: Tuesday, March 24, 4 to 6 p.m., Whidden-McLean Funeral Home, Bartow.
Polk County Democrat, The (Bartow, FL) - Saturday, March 21, 2009∼Son of William Emile Joppien and Bertha Louise "Martha" Wende. Husband of Irene Elsie Joppien. Father of William R., Thomas J., & Michael Joppien
Born Aug. 27, 1921, in Hamburg, Germany, Mr. Joppien immigrated to the United States at the age of 5 with his parents.
He served in the U.S. Navy in World War II on the U.S.S. Independence, an aircraft carrier. Petty Officer First Class Joppien received an Honor Certificate for saving the lives of numberous shipmates when the carrier was torpedoed by the Japanese.
Mr. Joppien has been a resident of Bartow and Mulberry for several years, moving from Port St. Lucie.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Irene E. Bock Joppien; his parents, William E. and Martha Drose Joppien; a son, Thomas J. Joppien; and a grandaughter, Kimberly J. Joppien.
Survivors include a son, William R. (Patricia) Joppien of Mulberry; a daughter-in-law, Patricia Herremans Joppien of Savannah, Ga.; four grandchildren, Brenda, William Jr., Tricia, and Debbie; and nine great-grandchildren.
Visitation: Tuesday, March 24, 4 to 6 p.m., Whidden-McLean Funeral Home, Bartow.
Polk County Democrat, The (Bartow, FL) - Saturday, March 21, 2009∼Son of William Emile Joppien and Bertha Louise "Martha" Wende. Husband of Irene Elsie Joppien. Father of William R., Thomas J., & Michael Joppien
Ralph William Joppien, 87, of Mulberry, died March 8, 2009, at Savannah Court in Bartow.
Born Aug. 27, 1921, in Hamburg, Germany, Mr. Joppien immigrated to the United States at the age of 5 with his parents.
He served in the U.S. Navy in World War II on the U.S.S. Independence, an aircraft carrier. Petty Officer First Class Joppien received an Honor Certificate for saving the lives of numberous shipmates when the carrier was torpedoed by the Japanese.
Mr. Joppien has been a resident of Bartow and Mulberry for several years, moving from Port St. Lucie.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Irene E. Bock Joppien; his parents, William E. and Martha Drose Joppien; a son, Thomas J. Joppien; and a grandaughter, Kimberly J. Joppien.
Survivors include a son, William R. (Patricia) Joppien of Mulberry; a daughter-in-law, Patricia Herremans Joppien of Savannah, Ga.; four grandchildren, Brenda, William Jr., Tricia, and Debbie; and nine great-grandchildren.
Visitation: Tuesday, March 24, 4 to 6 p.m., Whidden-McLean Funeral Home, Bartow.
Polk County Democrat, The (Bartow, FL) - Saturday, March 21, 2009∼Son of William Emile Joppien and Bertha Louise "Martha" Wende. Husband of Irene Elsie Joppien. Father of William R., Thomas J., & Michael Joppien
Born Aug. 27, 1921, in Hamburg, Germany, Mr. Joppien immigrated to the United States at the age of 5 with his parents.
He served in the U.S. Navy in World War II on the U.S.S. Independence, an aircraft carrier. Petty Officer First Class Joppien received an Honor Certificate for saving the lives of numberous shipmates when the carrier was torpedoed by the Japanese.
Mr. Joppien has been a resident of Bartow and Mulberry for several years, moving from Port St. Lucie.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Irene E. Bock Joppien; his parents, William E. and Martha Drose Joppien; a son, Thomas J. Joppien; and a grandaughter, Kimberly J. Joppien.
Survivors include a son, William R. (Patricia) Joppien of Mulberry; a daughter-in-law, Patricia Herremans Joppien of Savannah, Ga.; four grandchildren, Brenda, William Jr., Tricia, and Debbie; and nine great-grandchildren.
Visitation: Tuesday, March 24, 4 to 6 p.m., Whidden-McLean Funeral Home, Bartow.
Polk County Democrat, The (Bartow, FL) - Saturday, March 21, 2009∼Son of William Emile Joppien and Bertha Louise "Martha" Wende. Husband of Irene Elsie Joppien. Father of William R., Thomas J., & Michael Joppien
Inscription
MM1 USN
World War II
