Maureen Rae Koepke

   Maureen Rae Koepke (nee Decker), a soprano who was a voice teacher and choir director for almost 50 years, died March 7, 2007, at the Wesleyan Village in Elyria under Hospice care. She was 94, born in Elyria on December 14, 1912, and lived most of her life in Lorain and Amherst.

   Mrs. Koepke maintained she “started singing before I could talk”. Her singing began at a very early age gathered around the family piano every Saturday night with everyone singing old ballads and church hymns. Mrs. Koepke truly sang her way through life: performing in school productions, as the lead soprano in the Cleveland Light Opera, as soloist in church choirs, in a New York production of “The Student Prince”, as soloist in weddings, as director of church choirs, cantatas, women’s choral groups, and as a private voice teacher. She taught voice students out of her home for 47 years. Many vocalists in the area give credit to her for their singing ability. One former student acknowledged “Maureen was a big influence in our lives who introduced us to the Opera and had a very strong impact on our lives.” Another said she was “an amazing lady with a voice like an angel.”

   Mrs. Koepke was the winner of the 1996 Woman of Achievement award in Lorain County for her long history of civic contribution and community service. In her own words “service is the rent we pay for the space we occupy here on earth.” She was a member of the Ohio State Quota Club International and the Sorosis Club. She directed the choirs of Emmanuel United Methodist Church of Lorain where she was a member for many years and at the First United Methodist Church of Lorain and Elyria. Her life was devoted to her family, her church and music.

   She is survived by many loving cousins and their families who considered it a blessing and a privilege to know and love her: Frank Fowler, Dianne (nee Fowler) Carroll, Jack and Glenn Kuntz, Karen (nee Rodgers) Herschelman, Judy (nee Dunn) Dreger, Bonnie (nee Boggs) Richardson, 2 nephews-in-law Jim Koepke, and Stan Pincura and sister-in-law Jean (nee Koepke) Wilms.

   She was preceded in death by her husband of 41 years, Winton Koepke, in 1983; by her sister Ruth Virginia (nee Decker) Edelman; by 3 first cousins Lucille (nee Dreitzler) Fowler, Eleanor (nee Dunn) Boggs, Ronald Dunn, and by her parents Raymond Decker and Anna Louella (nee Dreitzler) Decker.

   She truly believed it was her calling to “use her gifts in God’s service” and she did.

   Arrangements are being made by Schwartz, Spence, Boyer & Cool Home for Funerals in Lorain, Ohio.

   A memorial service is being planned by the family to be held in the chapel at Wesleyan Village in Elyria at 807 West Avenue on April 22, Sunday, at 1pm. Chaplain Beth McKee and Rev. Darlene Robinson will officiate. There will be a private burial in Elmwood Cemetery.

   Memorial contributions may be made to Metro Park’s Lakeview Rose Garden, 12882 Diagonal Road, LaGrange, Ohio 44050 c/o Maureen Koepke Memorial.