Henry "Hank" Koepfle

Henry “Hank” Koepfle passed away on January 2, 2016, at home in Walla Walla, Wash., surrounded by his wife, children, and two dogs Schatzie and Rocko, at the age of 79 after surviving with multiple myeloma for over 14 years. Hank was born on January 27, 1936, in Milwaukee, Wis. He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Judy, and their children, Kurt Koepfle of New York, N.Y., Heidi Skiba (Doug) of Golden, Colo., and Eric Koepfle of New York, N.Y., as well as siblings Tony Koepfle of Santa Rosa, Calif., Bob Koepfle (Mary) of Battle Ground, Wash., and Elaine Koepfle (Matt) of Waukesha, Wis.
Hank graduated from Waukesha High School in 1954 and served in the United States Navy from 1956 to 1960. He and Judy met in Kenosha, Wis., and were married there on May 18, 1968. Hank drove a city bus in Waukesha for 14 years for Wisconsin Coach Lines starting in 1961. He was profiled in the Aug. 23, 1975 Waukesha Daily Freeman as a “…naturally friendly, outgoing, easy-to-talk-with bus driver, one of a kind.” After the city bus ceased operations, Hank worked as a much-loved custodian for the Waukesha Public Schools. He ended his career at Summit View Elementary, which he named as part of a contest. Upon retirement, Hank and Judy relocated to Walla Walla.
A devotee of history, he surrounded himself with books, movies, and newspaper clippings on such diverse topics as trains, the American West, and breweries. He attended various courses at the Walla Walla Community College Quest program, which he greatly enjoyed and where he met many dear friends. He was politically and socially active and prided himself on speaking his mind via frequently published letters-to-the-editor in the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin and the Tri-City Herald. Hank will be buried in Cedarburg, Wis.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, January 27, 2016 from 4:00 p.m. until the time of the 7:00 p.m. funeral service at the Randle-Dable-Brisk Funeral Home, 1110 S. Grand Ave., Waukesha. Graveside services will be held on Thursday, January 28, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. at Immanuel Cemetery in Cedarburg. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (themmrf.org) in Hank’s name are suggested.

A complete obituary will follow.