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Submitted: 11/1/17 • Approved: 11/3/17 • Last Updated: 11/6/17 • R1200644-G0-S3
STAFF SERGEANT US Army
World War II
January 28, 1917 - July 9, 2012
Emil Friedrich Doepel was born January 28, 1917 in Lutherville, Arkansas, located a few miles northeast of Clarksville. Born in the family home, Emil was the firstborn of eleven children in the family of Henry and Anna (Frickee) Doepel.
He attended the Lutheran School at Lutherville and at age 24 entered the military. Emil served with the US Army during WWII. During his tour of duty he worked with the Medical Corp and after four years received an honorable discharge in the rank of SSGT. Upon returning to civil life he began operation of Doepel Farms, where he remained until retirement in 1973.
Always a hard worker, Emil was not satisfied to stay retired so he began working Doepel Laser Plane doing irrigation surveying and rice grading for the next 20 years until the age of 75.
On March 8, 1974 Emil and Freada Fisher were married in Brinkley by Justice of the Peace, Russell Morris. Their marriage brought together the blended union of six children and through time the joy of eleven grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren.
For a number of years Emil and Freada have welcomed family and friends into their home on South Main in Brinkley. As small children, Julie and Mike always enjoyed going fishing with their dad. In his younger days he enjoyed hunting and belonged to a hunting club and later in life he and Freada traveled and had fun visiting museums looking at the older means of transportation.
In the community Emil was a 45 year member of Our Saviour Lutheran Church in Rich, where he was a former member of the Lutheran Layman's League. He enjoyed having his devotion each day, reading from the "Portals of Prayer" , and repeating a special prayer every night before falling asleep.
He was also a vital part of American Legion Post 98 and a member of the Brinkley Masonic Lodge #295.
With a jovial and gentle manner, Emil enjoyed the company of others and especially relished the times when the grandchildren entertained him. At age 95, Emil passed from this life into the eternal Glory of Heaven on Monday July 9, 2012 at the Baptist Medical Center in Stuttgart, Arkansas.
Family members who mourn Emil's passing: His wife of 38 years, Freada Fisher Doepel; Sons: Michael & Cyndi Doepel, Dwight Hamilton all of Brinkley, Glenn Hamilton of Huntsville, AL; Daughters: Julie Long of Springdale, Vickie and Russell Roberts of Searcy, Sherry and Carl Burrow of Brinkley; Brothers: Herman & Carolyn Doepel of Stuttgart, Edwin and JoAnne Doepel of Ulm, Martin and Marti Doepel of Eau Clarie, WS; Sisters: Freida and Earl Scheer of California, Lorene Kline of Berry, IL, Irene and Ralph Tritch of Terra Bella, CA, Francis and Don Grice of Fruitland FL, Wanda and Clarence Perry of Stuttgart Eleven grandchildren and Thirteen great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, William and Walter.
Services 10AM Thursday, Our Saviour Lutheran Church in Rich.
Interment 2PM, Thursday, Marianna Memorial Park in Marianna.
Parents:
Henry John Doepel (1888 - 1988)
Anna Louise Doepel (1897 - 1989)
Photo courtesy of sandycurry10@gmail.com
Contributed on 11/1/17 by hawkinsdonna48
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Record #: 1200644