Edwin Eppley

Bud Eppley, age 101, of Clarksville, Iowa was born the son of Charles and Louise (Fisher) Eppley on October 23, 1920, in Charles City, Iowa. He graduated from Charles City High School in 1938.  As a young man, Bud worked in his family’s drug store and as a bellhop at the Charles City Hotel.  

During World War II, Bud served with the Army’s 86th Infantry in the celebrated “Blackhawks” Division. Fighting in the Battle of the Rhine, the Battle of the Ruhr, and in Bavaria, he also marched throughout Germany, Austria, and France.  Bud continued to serve in the Philippines before being honorably discharged in 1946.

Bud was united in marriage to Ida Mae Coldren on September 19, 1940, in Carroll, Iowa. The couple made their home in Clarksville where they raised their four children:  Priscilla, Tom, Dan, and Jeff.  Bud worked at the Carnation Milk Company in Waverly, Iowa for 36 years before retiring in 1983.

He was a member of the Community United Methodist Church in Clarksville. In his spare time, he enjoyed fishing, hunting, working on cars, family trips, spending time with his grandchildren, and driving to the Meskwaki Casino in later years. Bud took his family on summer vacations to Lake Carlos in Alexandria, Minnesota annually, where he would fish from sun-up to nightfall. He once brought in a trophy sized “Northern” pike over 30-inches long.

Bud passed away on Saturday, June 25, 2022, at the Clarksville Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Clarksville, Iowa.  Bud is preceded in death by his loving wife Ida Mae Eppley; one daughter Priscilla Michka; and one son Dan Eppley.  

Bud is survived by two sons, Tom (Kaey) Eppley of Florida and Jeff Eppley of Norwalk, Iowa; six grandchildren, Stephanie (Mike) Clarke, Brad (Susan) Harris, Ted Eppley, Jessica Eppley, Brent (Adriana) Eppley, and Ben Eppley; three great grandchildren; and one daughter-in-law, Margie Eppley. 

Funeral Services were held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, July 5, 2022, at the Community United Methodist Church in Clarksville, Iowa. Pastor Joan Thomas officiated the service. The organist was Lola Clark and she accompanied the congregation in singing: “What A Friend We Have In Jesus”, “Nearer My God To Thee”, and “How Great Thou Art”. Burial was held at the Lynwood Cemetery in Clarksville with Tom Eppley, Jeff Eppley, Ben Eppley, Ted Eppley, and Brad Harris serving as Honorary Casketbearers. Military rights were provided by the Clarksville AMVETS Post #30. 

Visitation was held one hour before the services on Tuesday at the church. Memorials may be directed to the Cedar Valley Hospice or Clarksville Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Center. Redman Funeral & Cremation Services in Clarksville was in charge of arrangements.  Online condolences may be left at www.redmanfuneral.com