Koepnick

Malcolm Bruce Koepnick, husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, passed away peacefully on Sept. 24, 2018 in Schulenburg. He was 92 years old. Most friends and family knew him as Mike. He was born in Palestine to Alfred Oscar Koepnick and Maybelle Reaves. He was baptized in 1958 at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Irving. He attended school in various locations, concluding his formal education at Sam Houston High School, Houston; however, his love of reading and learning continued throughout his lifetime. Mike honorably served his country in the US Navy from 1944-1946 as a Motor Machinist’s Mate, 3rd Class during World War II. On Oct. 7, 1950, he married his sweetheart, Evelyn Eloise Rudloff of Shelby, at Zion Lutheran Church in Houston. Together, they raised three daughters. Mike was employed by Western Electric and other derivative companies, retiring from Lucent Technologies after 37 years. Due to career moves, Mike and Evelyn made homes in several locations, including Houston, Irving, and St. Louis County, Mo. After his retirement in 1985, he and Evelyn returned to Texas, settling into their final home together in Schulenburg. They were blessed with a marriage that lasted 62 years, until Evelyn passed away in 2013. Besides career and family, Mike enjoyed simple pleasures. Among them were learning about family history, following his favorite sports teams, gardening, tinkering with and repairing things around the house, and his membership with the Telecom (Telephone) Pioneers of America organization. Mike was preceded in death by his beloved Evelyn; his parents; his parents-in-law Ben and Elsie Rudloff; brothers Fessell (Pat) Koepnick and Norman (Dooley) Koepnick; sisters Selma Gertrude Thrash, Lucille Weisinger, Marjorie King, and Marilyn Gibbons; brothers-in-law Charles (Red) Thrash, John Zickuhr, Perry Rudloff, Burnie Rudloff and Wendell Rudloff; and sisters-in-law Dolores Zickuhr and Maxine Rudloff. He is survived by daughters Debbie Koepnick Bayer and husband Richard, Melissa Wallach and husband Steven, Sherri  vans and husband Hugh; granddaughter Kelly Wallach Rotskoff and husband Joe, grandson Bryan Wallach and wife Whitney; great grandchildren Samuel, Avery, Elias, William and Evelyn; sisters Patricia Little and husband Clyde, Harriette Johnson and husband Donald, Rhoshel Steib and husband John, and Merle Baldree; brothers Max Koepnick and wife Elizabeth, and William H. Koepnick and wife Linda; sisters-in-law Ruby Rudloff and Elvera Rudloff; and many other family members and friends. Mike’s family is especially grateful to the staff and friends at Regency Nursing Center, Schulenburg, for their devoted care of Mike during the last few years, and to the compassionate staff of Hospice of South Texas. Visitation will be at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Shelby, on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018 from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., with church service following at 10:30 a.m. Interment will be at Shelby Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church, 6814 Skull Creek Road, Fayetteville, Texas 78940 or a charity of your choice. Online condolences may be given at www.hennekefuneralhome.com.  Henneke Funeral Home in Columbus is in charge of arrangements.