Gary Hepperle, 88, of Aberdeen, SD, passed away on Tuesday, December 31, 2024, at Avera Mother Joseph Manor.

A Memorial Service will be at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, January 8, 2025, at Aldersgate Church in Aberdeen, with Pastor Mike Waldrop and Pastor Derek Baum officiating.  A luncheon and time of fellowship will follow the service.

Burial will be at a later date.

Visitation will be 6-7 p.m., Tuesday, at the church, with a prayer service at 7 p.m.  Visitation continues one hour before the service at the church.

Schriver’s Memorial Mortuary and Crematory, 414 5th Avenue NW, Aberdeen, is in charge of arrangements. Family and friends may sign the online guestbook at www.schriversmemorial.com. Services will be recorded and uploaded to the website following the service.

Gary Hepperle was born on January 26, 1936, to Fred J. and Emma A. (Rittierodt) Hepperle in Leola, SD.  He was raised there and graduated from Leola High School in 1954.  Gary then attended Northern State University, played basketball under the legendary Bob Wachs, and received his Bachelor’s degree in education in 1958.  He entered the Army in the fall of 1958.  He spent most of his three years of service in Fort Lee, Virginia.  After returning from the service, Gary began teaching and coaching in Herreid, SD, from 1961 to 1963.

Gary married Doris Kucera on August 9, 1964, in Leola, SD, where they made their home. The couple was blessed with two children, Heidi and John. Gary and Doris both taught in Leola.  He went on to get his Master’s degree in education and coaching in 1966. The family spent 16 years in Leola teaching and coaching.  According to Gary, he “had some of the best young men in the world on his basketball teams.” He had a love and passion for coaching and took great pride in it.

The family moved to Aberdeen in 1979, where he was hired by Control Data.  Gary worked there until 1989, when the plant closed, finishing in a management position.  He was then hired by Sheldahl Inc. to work in mangement.  After the plant closed in 1998, Gary went to work at Ken’s Superfair Foods until he had to retire for health reasons in 2020.

Gary loved attending sporting events, especially basketball.  He loved to be outdoors and garden and spent many hours during the summer doing this.  Gary was a member of the American Legion Post #78 in Leola, SD. He was a very patient and reserved man and had a great sense of humor.  Gary loved his family, and loved to be around his grandchildren, and attended all of the sporting events and activities that he was able to.

Grateful for having shared Gary’s life are his wife Doris of 60 years; daughter Heidi (Kevin) Fiedler; son John (Jodi) Hepperle; five grandchildren: Conner (Hailey) Fiedler, Morgan Fiedler, Hannah Hepperle, Sydney Hepperle, and Cooper Hepperle; and special extended family members Tarrill (Paul) Abney; Rhondi and her husband, the late Steve West.

Gary was preceded in death by his parents.