F. John Hoeppner Obituary

F. John Hoeppner

F. John Hoeppner, 90, of Eau Claire, died peacefully at home in hospice on Friday, March 7, 2008 at 11:25 am. He was surrounded by his wife, children and grandchildren and was alert to the end, smiling at the mention of his great-granddaughter. He died of complications related to diabetes, which he had successfully managed for 51 years. John outlived the predictions of his doctors by many years and greatly enjoyed his many friendships and his active life to the end.

Visitation will be Monday, March 10, 2008 at Lake St. United Methodist Church, 337 Lake St. Eau Claire, WI, 54703 from 5-7 P.M. Funeral services will be Tuesday, March 11, 2008 at 11 A.M. with a visitation one hour prior to services also at Lake St. United Methodist Church with pastor Graham West officiating. Burial will be at Forest Hill cemetery. Military honors will be conducted by American Legion Post #53.

On Tuesday his family and friends will be celebrating his love of life, his courage and endurance, his integrity in his professional and personal life, and his faithfulness to friends and family. John was born October 22, 1917, in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, to Edmund and Mae (Moore) Hoeppner; he was the oldest of three, surviving his sisters Dorothy Davenport and Frances Kerns Dewey. He graduated from Eau Claire High School at age fifteen, attended one year of college at Eau Claire and graduated from the University of Illinois Architectural School in Urbana, Illinois in 1939 with a degree in architectural engineering. At Illinois John was a member of Phi Sigma Kappa. After working in Chicago, Wichita, and Cleveland, he joined the US Navy in 1942, the same year he married Maurine May Richardson on September 6. This past fall they celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary with family and friends.
		John served as an officer in the US Navy SeaBees in the European theater during World War II and fought in the D-Day invasion. A Lieutenant commander in the 111th CB Amphibious Battalion, he was released from active duty in 1946. He then joined the active reserves where he served until 1977 and retired as Commander, CEC, US Navy.
In 1946 John returned to Eau Claire and became Vice-President of Hoeppner-Bartlett Construction Company, a family owned company founded in 1896. In 1969 he became President, retiring in 1982. Some of the familiar local buildings built by the company under John's direction include the public library, the Library and Science Building at the University, the court house in Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire Memorial High School, the old Eau Claire Country Club, and additions and remodeling of Lake St. Methodist Church. He also built the family home but let his wife and children build the lake house he enjoyed during the last five years. Active in civic affairs, John was President of the Eau Claire Lion's Club in 1968. He was a long-time member of Eau Claire Masonic Sanctuary Lodge #347 Scottish Rite, and he was honored by having the fall class of 2007 named after him. John was a long-time member of the Elks Club and of the Shriners. For the Shriners, he was in charge of the North-South football games for which he received a service medal. John was President of the Retired Officers Association and taught at La Crosse and in St. Paul. John was president of the Public Affairs Council, a member of the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce, a Trustee of the Wisconsin Carpenter's Health and Pension Plans, and Director of the Wisconsin Methodist Foundation. In retirement he arbitrated construction cases under the auspices of the American Arbitration Association. John loved to explore and see new places: he saw every state in this country and traveled throughout Europe (even visiting East Germany under Soviet occupation), Australia, New Zealand, and Latin America. He and Maurine bought a time-share in Hawaii where they vacationed every January. John was a trophy-winning bowler and a champion golfer, at one point getting two hole-in-ones in the same week at Eau Claire Country Club. He was a member of the Eau Claire Country Club and of Hillcrest Country Club. He remained physically active at the YMCA into his late 80's. John is survived by his wife, Maurine; two sons, John (Susana Cinelli) and Jim; three daughters, Jo Ann Hoeppner (Fernando) Cruz, Jacqueline Hoeppner (Tony) Freitas and Judy (Tom) Olson; three grandchildren, Robert (Mauda) and James Moran and Valeria Hoeppner; Two step-grandchildren, Pacha Villalba-Diebold and Claudia Cinelli; one great-granddaughter Harlow Moran. Memorials may be given in his name to EG Hoeppner Charities, 1767 Drummond St., Eau Claire, WI, 54701 or to Lake St. United Methodist Church, 337 Lake St., Eau Claire, WI, 54703. Friends may offer condolences online at www.fullerspeckien.com. Fuller-Speckien-Hulke Funeral Home (715) 832-5002, 3209 Rudolph Road, Eau Claire, WI 54701 is assisting the family with the arrangements.