James "Jim" F. Keppler, 90, of Cedar Rapids and formerly of Manchester, Iowa, passed away on Thursday, Dec. 23, 2021, at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Visitation will be held Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021, from 3 to 7 p.m. at Bohnenkamp-Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Manchester. Additional visitation is from 9 to 10:15 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021, at the funeral home, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary Catholic Church, Manchester, with the Rev. Gabriel Anderson officiating. Burial with military honors: St. Mary Catholic Cemetery, Manchester. Bohnenkamp-Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service is in charge of arrangements.

Jim was born May 15, 1931, in New Vienna, Iowa, the son of Henry and Rose (Hoeger) Keppler. He attended country school in rural Lodomillo Township #4 before earning his A.S. degree in Mason City. Jim served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. He was stationed on a destroyer in Guam, Hawaii and Japan. On Oct. 10, 1955, Jim married Wilma Lehs in Oelwein, Iowa, and six children were born to this union. He owned Keppler Refrigeration and served many local businesses. Jim was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church, Manchester, St. Patrick Catholic Church, Cedar Rapids, Knights of Columbus, Manchester, American Legion and volunteered almost 20,000 hours at Mercy Medical Center. Jim enjoyed spending his time woodworking, watching the birds and deer, listening to country music and dancing. He loved to read, had a strong faith and a great sense of humor. He will be missed by all who knew and loved him.

Jim is survived by his former spouse, Wilma Keppler of Oelwein; six children, Marty (Jacque) Keppler of Cedar Rapids, Nathan (Rhonda) Keppler of Strawberry Point, Roxie (Gary) Jackson of Manchester, Sherry Keller of Cedar Rapids, Kathy (Greg) Wellington of Dodgeville, Wis., and Lori (Max) Emerson of Swisher; two stepchildren, Randy Schultz and Karrie Schultz, both of Cedar Rapids; 25 grandchildren; and 35 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Rose Keppler; son-in-law, Jim Keller; granddaughter, Hope Rose Jackson; eight brothers; and three sisters.