Donald Jepma

Donald Jepma, son of Garrit and Rena (Visser) Jepma, was born October 24, 1924 at Hancock, Minnesota. He grew up and received his schooling in Hancock, before moving to Detroit, MI, where he worked as a truck driver. On June 1, 1943, he entered the U.S. Navy, where he was a Coxswain during WWII. Following his honorable discharge on December 4, 1945, Donald moved to California where he worked for a short time before moving to Alaska to do carpentry work. He later returned to Hancock, where he and his brothers, Bob and Joe, started Jepma Excavating. On July 25, 1950, he was united in marriage to Myrtice Johnson at St. Francis Catholic Church in Benson. The couple made their home in Hancock, where Donald continued working in the excavating business, and also worked part-time with the U.S. Postal Service for 35 years before retiring in 1991. He had also worked as public works director for the City of Hancock for 5 years in the late 1960's, and did some bartending for the VFW in Hancock as well. Myrtice died on June 28, 1994, and Donald has continued to live in Hancock since that time.



Some of Donald's favorite hobbies included hunting, fishing, attending his kids and grandkids sporting events, playing cards and going to the casino. Most of all, he loved spending time with his family and friends.



Donald died on Friday, January 4, 2008 at his home in Hancock, having lived to reach the age of 83 years.



He is survived by his six children: Garrit (Sherrie) Jepma of Benson, Cheryl (Michael) Miller of Hancock, John (Tawnia) Jepma of Hancock, Dennis (Carrie) Jepma of Hancock, Samuel (Julie) Jepma of Sauk Rapids and Daniel (Dawn) Jepma of Hancock; 16 grandchildren: Ryan (Angela) Jepma, Matthew Jepma, Jerrid Jepma, Brooke Jepma, Katelynn Jepma, Rick Jepma, Aaron Jepma, Megan Jepma, Brittni (fiancAC. Adam) Jepma, Kelsey Jepma, Joel Jepma, Kelly Jepma, Shawn (Jody) Miller, Kathryn Miller, Trevor (fiancAC. Laurie) Jepma and Ashley Jepma; 2 great-grandchildren: Trenton Jepma and Riley Miller; three sisters: Margaret Cartmill of Valencia, CA, Betty (Roger) Christophersen of Blaine and Helen (Jerry) Goulet of Hastings as well as many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife; his parents and eight siblings: Lucy, Benny, Rena, Joseph, Tillie, Marie, Robert and Samuel.