Richard Eppens

Richard Paul Eppens, 86, of Calmar passed away on June 29, 2022, at Wellington Place in Decorah due to complications from a fall. Funeral Services will be at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 6, 2022, at the Calmar Community United Methodist Church, with Rev. Karen Carlton presiding. Burial will be in the Calmar City Cemetery. Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. until the time of service at the church on Wednesday. Masonic Rites will be given at 12:45 p.m. at the Church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Winneshiek Medical Center Hospice, 901 Montgomery Street, Decorah, IA 52101 or a charity of your choice. Richard was born on January 30, 1936, to Robert Paul Eppens and Florence (Lawrence) Eppens in Calmar, Iowa. He graduated from Calmar High School in 1954. Following high school, he worked at the IGA grocery store in Calmar, and in 1965 began work at the Calmar Manufacturing Company. Richard was a master craftsman in the drawer department and took great pride in his work. He retired from that position in 1999, after 34 years with the company. Richard was an active member of the Calmar Community United Methodist Church and was a 61-year member of the Great Lights Masonic Lodge. In his younger years, he was a member of the Decorah Barbershop Choir. In Dick’s retirement, he enjoyed gardening, cooking, and buying sporty new cars. Although he didn’t travel often, he enjoyed several trips with his brother Bob and sister-in-law Rosie to visit nieces and nephews in Seattle, Washington; Pierre, South Dakota; and Minneapolis, Minnesota. Richard is survived by his sister-in-law Rosalyn Eppens, brother-in-law Donald Brandt, and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Florence Eppens, his sisters Edna May (Charles) Ohlert and Faye (Donald) Brandt, and his brother Robert (Rosalyn) Eppens.