Kenneth E. Kiepke

NORFOLK -- Kenneth E. Kiepke, 78, of Norfolk died Monday, Aug. 13, 2012, at the Norfolk Veterans Home. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Stonacek Funeral Chapel in Norfolk with the Rev. Chip Winter officiating and burial in Prospect View Cemetery at Pierce and military rites by American Legion Post 72 and United States Marines Honors Guard. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Thursday. He was born June 26, 1934, at rural Plainview to Elmer and Emma (Malzahn) Kiepke and was baptized Aug. 19, 1934, at Zion Lutheran Church, Plainview, and confirmed March 21, 1948, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Foster. He started school southwest of Battle Creek andÂ attended School District 14, Pierce. He served in the Marines in the Korean War from July 2, 1953, to July 1, 1956, in a tank battalion in Korea and received the National Service Medal, United States Service Medal and Korean Service Medal, Sharp Shooter Medal. After the service he worked at Chula Vista, Calif., in the airplane factory. He came back to Nebraska, met and married Margaret Hall March 8, 1959, at Zion Lutheran Church northwest of Hoskins. Ken drove a truck for many years for Abler Transfer. They moved to Norfolk in 1980. He then drove the mail truck for Clark Brothers Transfer until he retired. He had been at Norfolk Veterans Home since August of 2010. Ken enjoyed being together with family, fishing and hunting trips through the years. He was a member of Christ Lutheran Church, Norfolk. Survivors include wife Margaret Kiepke of Norfolk; sons Richard and wife Connie Kiepke of Norfolk, Steven and wife Peg Kiepke of Sioux Falls, S.D., Gary and wife Sandy Kiepke of Norfolk; daughters Mechel and husband John Ligaton of Lincoln; Kay Hackett and special friend Scott Schochenmaier of Norfolk; 15 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren; sister-in-law Lela Kiepke of Norfolk. He was preceded in death by his parents Elmer and Emma and one daughter, Debra in infancy, and brother Stanley. Congregational hymns will be "How Great Thou Art" and "Abide With Me." Casket bearers will be Michael Kiepke, Greg Kiepke, Kenny G. Kiepke, Ryan Harrison, Stan A. Kiepke, Jesse Volker.

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Kenneth E. Kiepke

June 26, 1934 - August 13, 2012