Suggested edit: Obituary published in Manchester Press on December 28th, 1999

"Harold William Keppler, 84, of Strawberry Point, died Thursday, Dec. 23, 1999, in Mercy Medical Center, Cedar Rapids, after a long illness.
Funeral services were held Monday, Dec. 27, at St. Mary's Catholic Church, with burial in Strawberry Point Cemetery.
Harold was born July 23, 1915, in New Vienna, the son of Henry Anselm and Rose Hoeger Keppler and attended German language schools there. On Sept. 6, 1939, he married Lucille Ries in Holy Trinity Church, Luxemburg, and the couple farmed in the Edgewood, Arlington and Strawberry Point areas until 1967. Harold then retired from active farming and served as a park attendant at Backbone State Park. Upon full retirement, Harold and Lucille pursued an active life of camping and fishing along the Mississippi River, snowmobiling and building waterwheels for the spring-fed stream by his rustic cabin. Harold enjoyed joking, visiting and playing cards. He was an avid naturalist and could identify all manner of fauna and flora. A natural woodworker, Harold carved scores of figures depicting rural life scenes, religious scenes and dozens of waterfowl and other animals. This past summer Harold and Lucille celebrated their 60 years together with family and friends.
Survivors include his wife, Lucille; 11 children, daughters, Patricia (Robert) Schoulte of Farmersburg, Grace (Jerry) Lamphere of Randalia, Betty (Vaylord) Brooks, Caroline (Richard) Otdoefer and Theresa (Randall) Laughead, all of rural Strawberry Point; and sons, David (Mary), Duane (Barbara), all of Arlington, Frank (Iona), Mike (Virginia) and Joe, all of Strawberry Point, Tony (Gerarda) of Epworth; four brothers, Irvin of Arlington, Jerome and James , both of Manchester, and the Rev. Daniel of Monona; 60 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren.
Harold was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Cletus, Leonard, John and Ray; sisters, Mary Burr, Clarinda Bushaw and Bernice Bushaw; granddaughters, Kristin Keppler and Amber Rose Laughead; and great-grandson, Austin Lamphere.
Roberson Funeral Home, Strawberry Point, was in charge of arrangements."
Contributor: Jeanette Johnson (48278241)