JOHN FRANCIS POEPSEL

John Francis Poepsel, 92, of Jefferson City, died Thursday, October 6, 2005, at St. Marys Health Center. He was born on Jan. 6, 1913 in Jefferson City, the son of John Leo and Anna Helena Bruegging Poepsel. He was married on April 22, 1941 in Jefferson City to Hazel Ann White who survives at the home. A graduate of Jefferson City High School, Mr. Poepsel was employed with Central Missouri Distributing Company where he sold wholesale radio and television supplies. He later worked for Shaw and Sons Music Store where he was a salesman and repaired electronic organs and amplifiers. He was a U.S. Army Air Corps veteran of World War II stationed at Scott Field in Belleville, Illinois where he taught electronics and radio. He was a member of the Cathedral of Saint Joseph where he served as Director of Ushers for thirty-nine years. He was a volunteer for the ABLE Learning Center where he taught adults to read for over fifteen years. He also served as the Associate District Coordinator/Instructor for AARP’s Tax-Aide Program, a volunteer program providing free help to the elderly in filling out their tax returns. He was a federally licensed Amateur Radio Operator with the call letters W0NL and held the highest level license, the Amateur Extra Class. He also held the Radiotelephone First and Second Class licenses through the Federal Communications Commission. A long-time member of the Mid-MO Amateur Radio Club, he received Certificate No. 001 for making radio contacts with hams holding two-letter call signs in all state capitols. He also enjoyed amateur astronomy, photography, and music. Other survivors include three sons and their wives, John Charles and Sherry Poepsel, Jefferson City; Joseph William and Mary Poepsel, Columbia, MO; and James Roland and Margaret Poepsel, Tyler, Texas; eleven grandchildren; and seventeen great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one brother, Clarence Lawrence Poepsel. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2005, at the Cathedral of Saint Joseph with the Rev. Robert A. Kurwicki officiating. Entombment will be in Resurrection Mausoleum. Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 10th, at Dulle-Trimble Funeral Home with a prayer service at 7 p.m. Memorials are suggested to Mid-MO Amateur Radio Club, c/o Thomas S. Hammond, 5417 Scruggs Station Road, Lohman, MO 65053-9537; or ABLE Learning Center, 214 E. Miller Street, Jefferson City, MO 65101. Those wishing to send condolences or tributes to the family may do so at www.dulletrimble.com.