William “Bill” J Tepe
William “Bill” J Tepe , 75, died Thursday, May 11, 2017 at the State Veterans Community Living Center at Fitzsimmons in Aurora. He was born May 16, 1942 at Dodge City the son of Charles L. and Angela E (Closen) Tepe. He was lifetime resident of Dodge City, Kansas and served proudly in the United States Army as a communications technician in the 1960’s stationed in Germany.
He was a man of many trades. He worked for Fergerson Furniture & Appliance as a delivery and serviceman, for the Dodge City Public Works Division, Dodge City Police Department, for USD 443 in the Transportation Department, and he and his wife owned and operated Caroline’s Family Restaurant.
He was a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 2955, and Howard Gotschall VFW Post 1714. A member of Sacred Heart Cathedral and the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Guadalupe both in Dodge City.
On February 22, 1963 he married Carolyn J. Hileman at Sacred Heart Cathedral. They celebrated 54 years of marriage this year.
Survivors include: wife, Carolyn Hileman-Tepe, Aurora, Colorado; 3 daughters, Jennifer “Jenny” Tepe- Gilliland and husband Joshua , Bothel Washington, Haley Tepe and Jeff Phil, Aurora, Colorado, and Victoria “Vickie” Tepe-Brownback and husband James, Dodge City Kansas; his sister, Shirley A. Tepe-Barnett and husband Jim, Yukon, Oklahoma; 8 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren, and many beloved nieces and nephew’s.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers, Leon and Robert “Bob” Tepe, and many maternal and paternal aunts and uncles.
Funeral service will be at 10:00 am Tuesday, May 16, 2017 at Ziegler Funeral Chapel, Dodge City, with Fr. Wesley Schawe presiding. Burial will follow at the Kansas Veterans Cemetery at Ft. Dodge with full military rites by Howard Gotschall VFW Post 1714 and Military Honors for the State of Kansas. Visitation will be Monday from noon to 8:00 pm at Ziegler Funeral Chapel.
The family suggests memorials to the Bill Tepe Memorial Fund to be designated at a later date in care of Ziegler Funeral Chapel, 1901 N. 14th Ave., Dodge City, Kansas 67801.
