Beverly D. Hoeppner

Beverly Dawn Lahrman was born on June 16th, 1930 and was legally adopted on August 28th, 1934 by Ralph and Frieda Lahrman, with whom she had lived since her birth. She was born of Frieda's sister, Clara (Kaddy) Rohlfing, and was able to enjoy a relationship with her biological mother throughout her life.

Beverly spent a happy childhood as an only child and was involved in dance and performing. She was a red-headed little "Shirley Temple" as she performed delightful tap dances on the sparking drum barrel stage her doting father had created for her. She also became adept at twirling baton and later taught twirling lessons.

In her high school years she met and eventually married Jerry Hoeppner, the school football star on May 20th, 1950. Her parents helped them obtain their first little home, where they settled down to raise four active boys. They moved to a larger home in the country outside Fort Wayne and New Haven, where the boys grew up and made many fond childhood memories of their own. The family took vacations every year, visiting nearly every state in the U.S. as well as making a few overseas trips.

When the four boys became school-aged, Beverly began work as a paraprofessional at East Allen County Schools. She thoroughly enjoyed working with children and also taught Sunday School at her church. She loved putting together Christmas programs every year at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church and always had a hand in the many children's church activities at vacation Bible schools and church picnics as well.

After her boys graduated, she eventually retired from the school system, but never stopped being involved in children's activities and programs. The four boys married, and Jerry and Bev then moved several times, finally settling in to a lovely country home built by their oldest son, Geary, in Columbia City. They began attending Trinity Evangelical Presbyterian Church and Beverly continued to lend her talents to the children's ministries there, as well as preparing occasional church breakfasts with Jerry as they had done in their previous church. Beverley helped establish Terry and Martha's Christian book store by volunteering many hours working and helped with the booksellers' conventions all around the country, as well. She also often shared her special cooking talents in the form of lemon meringue pies, home-made noodles and buttermilk cupcakes with family and friends.

Beverly always lovingly invested in her relationships with others, especially in her family, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She hosted many family meals and always provided meaningful holiday gatherings. As Jerry's health declined and they were no longer able to maintain the country home, their son and daughter-in-law, Terry and Martha, invited them to live with them at their large home in New Haven, Indiana. They resided there in their own little apartment area since July of 2018 where, with the help of family, Bev cared for her husband of sixty-eight years until his death on December 10, 2018.

Beverly D. Hoeppner passed away on Monday, February 11, 2019 at 6:15 p.m. She is survived by her daughter-in-law, Deborah Hoeppner of Ft. Wayne; three sons, Kerry (Karen Heins) Hoeppner of Key West, Florida; Terry (Martha) Hoeppner of New Haven; and Larry (Chris) Hoeppner of Ft. Wayne. She is also survived by two sisters-in-law, Loann Oberkiser of Ft. Wayne and Patsy Hoeppner of Roanoke, VA; as well as by ten grandchildren and twenty-three great-grandchildren. Beverly Hoeppner is preceded in death by her husband, Jerry, by her son, Geary Hoeppner, brothers-in-law Phil Oberkiser and Neal Hoeppner, and by sister-in-law, Jane Simpson. Our mom, grandma, friend, and sister in Christ, Beverly, leaves us a wonderful example and legacy of loving her God and loving others. Matthew 22:37-40 says: 37 Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." This love could certainly be seen in the life of God's child, Beverly.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, February 16, 2019 at 1:00 p.m. at Trinity Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 709 West Business 30, Columbia City; with visitation at the church two hours (beginning at 11:00 a.m.) prior to the service. Burial will follow at Nolt Cemetery, Columbia City. Memorial bequests may be given in memory of Mrs. Hoeppner to Trinity Evangelical Presbyterian Church. To view Mrs. Hoeppner's Lifestory, please log onto www.demoneygrimes.com