Person Sheet
NamePAUL LOEL KOEPSEL 
Birth17 Jun 1930
Death17 Mar 2001, BROOKINGS, BROOKINGS, SOUTH DAKOTA
Burial22 Mar 2001, GREENWOOD CEMETERY, BROOKINGS, BROOKINGS, SOUTH DAKOTA
OccupationENGINEERING PROFESSOR, SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY
EducationSDSU, OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY, PENN STATE, LOUISIANA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE
FatherPAUL F KOEPSEL
MotherANNA LOE
Obituary
"He enjoyed everything about his work, except for grading papers," said his wife, Delores. "His students were a real spark in his life, and he'd do most anything for them."
Paul Loel Koepsell, 70, died of heart failure Saturday, March 17, 2001, at the Brookings Hospital.
He was born June 17, 1930, in Canova to Paul F. and Anna Loe Koepsell. He attended school there, graduating from Canova High School in 1948. He attended South Dakota State College, where he received his bachelor's degree in civil engineering in 1952. He later received his Ph.D. in engineering from Oklahoma State University, and also attended Pennsylvania State and Louisiana Polytechnic Institute.
He married Delores Johnson on June 10, 1952, in Canova. They met in high school at Canova. "He was always full of fun, and he was very helpful," his wife said. Shortly after their wedding, they moved to Seattle, where he worked as a structural analyst for the Boeing Aircraft Co. until 1957.
He began a career as an engineering professor at South Dakota State University in 1957, where he worked until retiring in 1997. He was director of the university computing center and worked on numerous engineering activities and consulting projects. "He was the kind of person who could never say 'no,' " said his daughter Pamela Koepsell of Sioux Falls.
He was a member of First Presbyterian Church, where he served as elder and trustee and was a member and treasurer of BPOE No. 1490, where he was named Elk of the year in1982. He also was a member of American Society of Civil Engineers and several other professional organizations. He was vice president of the Professional Engineers from 1979 until 1981, and president and charter member of the South Dakota Engineering Society. He also was president of the South Dakota Section of American Society of Civil Engineers.
Koepsell traveled by train with his wife, visiting all the states and touring China, Japan, Australia and Germany. He also enjoyed spending time with his granddaughters. "It went both ways, he enjoyed them, and they enjoyed being with him," his wife said. He served as Brookings city commissioner from 1973 until 1986, and was a board member for the Ron Reed Economic Development Center. He tried always to be a presence in the life of his family. "He had high values and morals," his daughter said. "He helped us to strive to do our best."
Survivors include his wife, Delores; two sons: Steven of Ukosaka, Japan, and Royal of Colorado Springs, Colo.; a daughter, Pamela Koepsell of Sioux Falls; and three grandchildren.
Services begin at 2 p.m. Thursday at the First Presbyterian Church in Brookings with burial in Greenwood Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Eidsness Funeral Home in Brookings with the family present from 7 to 8 p.m.
Memorials may be directed to the SDSU Civil Engineering Department, South Dakota Heart Association, or the First Presbyterian Church.
Paul Loel Koepsell, 70, died of heart failure Saturday, March 17, 2001, at the Brookings Hospital.
He was born June 17, 1930, in Canova to Paul F. and Anna Loe Koepsell. He attended school there, graduating from Canova High School in 1948. He attended South Dakota State College, where he received his bachelor's degree in civil engineering in 1952. He later received his Ph.D. in engineering from Oklahoma State University, and also attended Pennsylvania State and Louisiana Polytechnic Institute.
He married Delores Johnson on June 10, 1952, in Canova. They met in high school at Canova. "He was always full of fun, and he was very helpful," his wife said. Shortly after their wedding, they moved to Seattle, where he worked as a structural analyst for the Boeing Aircraft Co. until 1957.
He began a career as an engineering professor at South Dakota State University in 1957, where he worked until retiring in 1997. He was director of the university computing center and worked on numerous engineering activities and consulting projects. "He was the kind of person who could never say 'no,' " said his daughter Pamela Koepsell of Sioux Falls.
He was a member of First Presbyterian Church, where he served as elder and trustee and was a member and treasurer of BPOE No. 1490, where he was named Elk of the year in1982. He also was a member of American Society of Civil Engineers and several other professional organizations. He was vice president of the Professional Engineers from 1979 until 1981, and president and charter member of the South Dakota Engineering Society. He also was president of the South Dakota Section of American Society of Civil Engineers.
Koepsell traveled by train with his wife, visiting all the states and touring China, Japan, Australia and Germany. He also enjoyed spending time with his granddaughters. "It went both ways, he enjoyed them, and they enjoyed being with him," his wife said. He served as Brookings city commissioner from 1973 until 1986, and was a board member for the Ron Reed Economic Development Center. He tried always to be a presence in the life of his family. "He had high values and morals," his daughter said. "He helped us to strive to do our best."
Survivors include his wife, Delores; two sons: Steven of Ukosaka, Japan, and Royal of Colorado Springs, Colo.; a daughter, Pamela Koepsell of Sioux Falls; and three grandchildren.
Services begin at 2 p.m. Thursday at the First Presbyterian Church in Brookings with burial in Greenwood Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Eidsness Funeral Home in Brookings with the family present from 7 to 8 p.m.
Memorials may be directed to the SDSU Civil Engineering Department, South Dakota Heart Association, or the First Presbyterian Church.
Spouses
Marriage10 Jun 1952, CANOVA, MINER, SOUTH DAKOTA