James F. Keppler

May 15, 1931 - December 23, 2021

James “Jim” F. Keppler, 90, of Cedar Rapids formerly of Manchester, Iowa, passed away on Thursday, December 23, 2021, at Mercy Hospital in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Visitation will be held Tuesday, December 28, 2021, 3 to 7 p.m. at Bohnenkamp-Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Manchester. Additional Visitation is from 9 to 10:15 a.m. Wednesday, December 29, 2021, at the Funeral Home followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary Catholic Church, Manchester, Reverend Gabriel Anderson officiating. Burial with Military Honors at 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 AS degree in Mason City. Jim served in the United States Navy during the Korean War. He was stationed on a destroyer in Guam, Hawaii, and Japan. On October 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, Nathan (Rhonda) Keppler of Strawberry Point, Sherry Keller of Charlotte, North Carolina, Lori (Max) Emerson of Swisher, Kathy (Greg) Wellington of Dodgeville, Wisconsin, Roxie (Gary) Jackson of Manchester, Marty (Jacque) Keppler of Cedar Rapids; two stepchildren, Randy Schultz and Karrie Schultz both of Cedar Rapids; twenty-five grandchildren; and thirty-five 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. Please share a memory of Jim at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.