Edwin E. Doepel Sr.

Edwin E. Doepel Sr., 89, of Stuttgart, passed away Sunday, June 30, 2019, at Baptist Health-Stuttgart. Mr. Doepel was born Jan. 30, 1930, in Lutherville, Ark., to Henry and Anna Fricke Doepel. A lifelong farmer, he was named Outstanding Young Farmer for the State of Arkansas in 1964, and his family was recognized as Farm Family of the Year in 1969. He was an Army veteran of the Korean War. Doepel was a member of Ulm Civic Club, American Legion, president and past president of Farm Bureau, past president of DeValls Bluff School Board, board member of Farmer Aerial Seeders, MFA board member and Ruritan Club. He also volunteered at the Museum of the Arkansas Grand Prairie. He was a faithful member of Zion Lutheran Church where he served as treasurer for 12 years and Head Elder. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife and mother of his children, LaFern Schroder Doepel; wife, JoAnn Widener Doepel; and brothers, Emil Doepel, Walter Doepel, William Doepel and Herman Doepel. Survivors are his wife, Brenda Battin Doepel; son, Edwin E. Doepel Jr. (Ruth) of Yorkville, Illinois; daughter, Karen D. Geater (Edward) of Benton; brother, Martin Doepel of Yukon, Okla.; sisters, Freda Sheer of Porterville, Calif., Lorene Kline of Barry, Illinois, Irene Tritch of Terra Bella, Calif., Frances Grice of Fruitland Park, Fla., and Wanda Perry of Stuttgart; six grandchildren; 12 step-grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and 14 step-great-grandchildren. Funeral services, officiated by Pastor Johnny Graham, are 10 a.m. Friday at Zion Lutheran Church with burial following in Zion Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m., Thursday, at Turpin Funeral Home and 9 a.m., Friday, at Zion Lutheran Church. His family requests memorials be made to Zion Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 158, Ulm, Ark. 72170; or Museum of the Arkansas Grand Prairie, 921 E. Fourth St., Stuttgart, Ark. 72160. Please go to www.turpin-co.com to sign the online guestbook.