Elmer Koepplin, age 85, of New Rockford, ND, died Thursday, March 3, 2011, at Sanford Health in Fargo, ND.

Elmer Philip Koepplin was born October 11, 1925, at Elgin, ND, the son of Martin and Phillipena (Stevahn) Koepplin.  He was raised with other siblings at Elgin, ND.  His father passed away at age 42 in 1932, when Elmer was seven years old.  This was about a year before penicillin came out.  His mother remarried four years later to John Weisenburger and their combined family of fourteen moved to a farm located one mile south of Brantford, ND.  His brothers and sisters included Herbert, Andrew, Bertha, Emma, Tina (all Koepplins), Mable, Doris, Florence, Alice, Ervin, Donnie, Eugene, Teddy and Melvin (all Weisenburgers).  This made for a “yours, mine and ours” family.

He attended grade schools at Elgin and Brantford.  Elmer remained on this family farm until he enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1946 (WWII).  He took his basic training at Fort Snelling, MN, and Camp Polk, Louisiana, and was sent to Fairbanks, Alaska on what was called “Operation Deep Freeze.”  Elmer served there as a baker.  He was always proud to be a veteran and of his sharp shooting medals and ribbon.

He married “his Shortie”,  Aneita Longnecker on July 15, 1946, at New Rockford, ND.

Following his honorable discharge from the Army, he returned to the Brantford area where his wife and new baby girl awaited.  With that “I wanna be like Dad” deep in his soul, he went to farming, starting out with 5 milk cows, 1 brood sow and 50 chickens and the desire to make his farming dream come true on what was known in the area as “the Monkey Ranch”.  He attended GI school, where he learned carpentry, electrical work and mechanics.

Elmer was a member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church in New Rockford for many years where he served on the church council, as an elder and usher.  His faith and love of his church, family and the Lord Jesus Christ kept him going as his unfixable handicaps advanced through the years.

Elmer was for many years a proud member of the American Legion, Raymond B. Thorn Post #30, New Rockford and of VFW Post #3696, Sheyenne, ND.

One of Elmer’s special loves was gardening which he put his all into, especially when he retired from 50 years of farming and milking cows.  He was doubly proud of his German heritage and enjoyed visiting with others in his German tongue.  He loved to tell folks when they asked that he was a full blooded “Kraut.”

Elmer was a music lover, especially the favorite German waltzes and polkas and country favorites.  These favorite and special times happened with his friends, of “Roberta and Friends” playing his harmonica, singing and adding a yodel here and there.

He is survived by one daughter, Charlotte Koepplin, New Rockford; one son Martin (Janelle) Koepplin, New Rockford; three grandchildren, Todd (Karen) Koepplin, New Rockford, Aaron (Carol) Koepplin, Carrington, ND, Trisha Koepplin, Brainerd, MN;  5 great-grandchildren, Taylor, Allyssa, Kallie, Kread and Kerigan; one brother, Andrew (Ramona) Koepplin, Fargo, ND; three sisters, Bertha Paul and Tina Anderson, Carrington, and Alice Schnell, Jamestown; 5 step brothers, Eugene, Melvin, Donnie, Ervin, Teddy; 3 step sisters, Mable Willoughby, Doris Exe, Florence Flegel; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Elmer was preceded in death by his parents, wife, stepfather, sister Emma Birkholz, and brother Herbert Koepplin.

FUNERAL SERVICE: First Lutheran Church, New Rockford, ND

DATE AND TIME: Tuesday, March 8, 2011 at 10:30AM

BURIAL: Prairie Home Cemetery, New Rockford, ND