Obituary of William F. Geppert

William F. Geppert, Jr. William F. Geppert, Jr. passed away peacefully on August 22, 2008. Bill was born in Tacoma, Washington on June 19, 1930. He graduated from Lincoln High School in Tacoma in 1948, where he was an avid and accomplished three sport athlete playing baseball, basketball, and football. Bill graduated from Washington State College with a Bachelor of Science degree, while pursuing and lettering in football and baseball for the Cougars. In 2003, Bill was inducted into the Tacoma-Pierce County Baseball Hall of Fame, sponsored by the T.A.C. After graduating College in 1953, Bill married his college sweetheart, Marie. He joined the Army Corps of Engineers and their early adventures in the Army Corps led them to Virginia, then flight school in Texas and Oklahoma. They then made there way to the Presidio and then to Stockton California before returning to the Tacoma area. During the Korean War, 1st Lt. William F. Geppert flew Corgi Bell H23C helicopters in the "Air Arm" of the 31st Anti-aircraft Brigade in the Northwest and then at Pt. Barrow, Alaska. Bill and Marie then settled in Dash Point to raise their family. Bill worked in the family business (Acme Foundry) for many years. Leaving the Foundry business, he entered the commercial real estate business and finished his career in the real estate division for the US Postal Service. Bill will be missed by his wife, Marie, of 55 years, his nine children; Bill, Steve (Kerri), Brian (Tomoko), John (Amy), Bruce (Liz), David, Sue (Tom) Rogers, Molly (Brian) Meiners, and Michael. Bill will be missed by his grandchildren; Andrew, Daniel, Josiah, Tony, Clare, Emily, Paul, Marissa, William, Abigail, Isabelle, Nathan, Lauren, Ian, Isaac, and Grace. Bill will be missed by sisters JoAnn Schmidtke, and Janice (Richard) Butch, sister-in-law Verlaine Geppert, and brother Robert (Lucy). Bill was proceeded in death by his parents, Ann and Bill, and his brother Gary. Bill's life will be celebrated at a funeral mass, 11:00 am., Thursday August 28, at St. Theresa Catholic Church, 3939 SW 331st St., Federal Way; reception to follow. Bill's family wishes to thank Life Care Center of Federal Way for their loving care of Bill. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in the name of Bill Geppert to: Tacoma Athletic Commission (TAC)/Youth Sports Fund. PO Box 11304, Tacoma WA, 98411 or to a charity of your choice.