Louis Edward Krepcik

  Louis (Lou) Edward Krepcik arrived into this world on January 9, 1935 to Joseph F. and Eugenia A. Krepcik of Fairbury, Nebraska. He was educated at Saint Michael’s School K-8 and graduated from Fairbury High School in 1953. He attended Fairbury Junior College for 1 year. While he was still in high school in 1952 he joined the U.S. Navy Reserves and attended Aviation Electronics, Radar and Sonar schools before going on active due on November 1, 1955 at Naval Air Station Los Alamitos, California.

He met his wife Gwendolyn (Gwen) Nelson on a blind date on New Year’s Eve in 1956. They were married on April 12, 1957 at her parents’ home in Pasadena, California. They    settled in Santa Ana, Calif. They were blessed with four lovely daughters: Kathleen (Kathy) (Tim) Griffin of El Cajon, Calif. , Nancy (Kevin) Chapin Twin Falls, ID., Laura (Randy) Drake of Filer, ID., and Marcia (Tony) Garey of Boise, ID.

After Lou’s discharge from the U.S. Navy he began work first at SPS Western as a press operator. After 7 months there he went to work for Robert-Shaw Fulton for 6 months. In the early 1960’s he settled in at the Autonetics division of North American Aviation. In his time there he advanced from electronic technician to test engineer to supervisor while working on many Navy, Air Force and NASA projects and continuing his education in the evenings. The company was known as Rockwell International when he and family depart in November, 1970 to farm in Filer, Id.

The first 6 months in Idaho were busy as with the help of his father, they built a new home for the family. Gwen was a real trooper as she kept busy pounding nails, etc. They moved in to their new home the following spring. The 20+ years on the farm were the most enjoyed working years of his life, after his years in the Navy.

In 1990 he purchased an interest in Clear Lakes Agency, Buhl. He sold insurance until 2002 when he retired from there. Gwen & he took a 4 month trip through the United State & Canada on their Goldwing & Kamper from May to September, visiting 44 states and seven provinces. Gwen called it her trip of a life time. He was active with the Magic Valley Fellowship Hall until June, 2004 when he & Gwen ventured North on the Goldwing and Kamper, this time to Alaska. They return early due to Gwen’s health. She passed away on Oct. 13 of 2005.

In 2006 he met Bette Lou Jennings from Boise on Match.com. They were married in Kauai, HI on April 15, 2008 and settled in Twin Falls. Lou and Bette spent several years traveling and wintering in Yuma. Their travels took them to Hawaii, and on a 14 day cruise out of Florida and through the Panama Canal, road trips to visit family and their homes of origin. While wintering in Yuma they enjoyed 4-wheeling and jeeping with members of St. John Newman’s Catholic Church and while summering in Twin Falls they motorcycled in the Pacific Northwest.

During his life was active in the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Buhl, the Knight of Columbus, Kiwanis, the American Legion, the Filer Grange, the Church of the Ascension and the IMC, local chapter and the Syringa Riders Chapter ID “G” motorcycle clubs. Since his health became more difficult, he had enjoyed quieter activities including audio books, cards with friends, good old westerns, his special pet friends, Honey, Sweet Pea, Tyson and Patches, and family visits.

Lou was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph F. and Eugenia A. Krepcik and by his wife and partner of 48 years, Gwen Krepcik.

He is survived by four daughters from his union with Gwen, Kathy (Tim) Griffin of El Cajon, Calif., Nancy (Kevin) Chapin of Twin Falls, Idaho, Laura (Randy) Drake of Filer, Idaho and Marcia (Tony) Garey of Boise, Idaho. He is also survived by eight grandchildren Caleb (Danielle) and Loretta Drake, Chase and Chandler (Angela) Chapin, A.J. and Aaron Griffin, and Megan and Anthony (Lauren) Garey, as well as four great-grandchildren.

Lou is also survived by his current wife and partner, Bette Krepcik, his step-daughter Deleen (Billy) Hughes and step-son, David Jennings, as well as step-grandsons, Jeremy, Justin and Jacob Jennings; two brothers, Robert (Pat) Krepcik and his wife, Janice of Mead, Washington, and Charles (Mike) Krepcik and wife, Debbie of Lacey, Washington.  Sister, JoAnn Perry and nieces, Kayla, Michelle and Jennifer, and nephews, Kevin, Curtis, Jeffery and Jonathan.  

Services to celebrate his life were held on Thursday, October 6, 2016 at 10:00 A.M. at the Church of the Ascension, 371 Eastland Dr. North, Twin Falls, Idaho.   There was a lunch gathering following in the church’s fellowship hall.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the audio/video fund at the Church of the Ascension, 371 Eastland Dr. North, Twin Falls, Idaho, in memory of Lou Krepcik.

All services and arrangements are under the direction of Parke's Magic Valley Funeral Home of Twin Falls, Idaho.  Those wishing to share memories and condolences may do so on Lou's memorial webpage at www.magicvalleyfuneralhome.com.