Gerald Edward "Jerry" Hoepner

Gerald "Jerry" Edward Hoepner passed from life into Life at the age of 50 on December 26, 2021 in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Jerry was born October 2, 1971 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota to Edward "Ed" Kerwin and Marie Pearl (Ihmels) Hoepner, the second of three children.
His early childhood was spent in Africa (Cameroon and Nigeria) and then in Ames, Iowa before coming to Colorado Springs when he was 13. He graduated from Doherty High School, having participated in Marching and Jazz Band, and continued his education at Grace University in Omaha, Nebraska. Jerry preferred to work outside and made a career of it by working at camps, the Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Services department of the City of Colorado Springs, and then for over twenty years with Cornella Brothers Excavating as a Heavy Equipment Operator and Production Supervisor.
He found love and a best friend, and on May 10, 2008, he married Melissa Susannah (Oltmann) Hoepner. In 2009 with the birth of their daughter, Quinn May Hoepner, he became a proud father.
Jerry was a giant of a man, both physically but also in his mind and his spirit. Though his stature may initially intimidate, he was one of the most gentle, kind, and loving people you would have the pleasure to meet. He gifted his family, friends, and peers a fullness and authenticity of relationship, and he was fondly referred to as Jer-Bear by his family, whom he loved deeply and was devoted to both near and far.
Jerry was constantly curious; reading, learning new things, and developing skills. He would be giddy in finding the "right" or better way to do something: smoking a pork butt in the smoker, digging a better hole, making a cup of coffee, creating the best camper set up for a weekend in the mountains, flying a kite, or designing and sewing a better everyday carry bag. This same joy and curiosity he brought to the pursuit of God and the deepening of his Christian faith.
He was passionate about relationships and enjoyed sitting down for a good meal, preferably barbeque, and a long conversation. He lived out his faith in the context of community: his high school youth group at Faith EV Free Church, on camp staff at Hidden Acres in Iowa, helping lead worship at Bridges at First Pres, a mission trip to Egypt, and leading and participating in men's Bible studies at Rocky Mountain Calvary.
Jerry was the beloved husband of Melissa and the adoring father of Quinn. He will also be deeply missed by his parents, Ed and Marie Hoepner; brother-in-law, Paul Jaeger of Colorado Springs, Colorado; sister and her husband, Brenda and Jeff Wright, and nephew and niece, Micah and Elsa Wright of Lakewood, Colorado. He will be fondly remembered as well by his mother-in-law, Doris Oltmann; siblings-in-law, Jeff (Phyllis) Oltmann and Eric Oltmann; nephew, Eric Oltmann II; and by loving aunts, uncles, cousins, many long-time friends, and a host of pets.
He joins his sister, Kristine "Kris" Jaeger; and father-in-law, Marvin Oltmann; in the fullness of God's unending joy with their Savior, Jesus Christ.
Join our family for a memorial service at 10:00AM, Saturday, February 19, 2022, Rocky Mountain Calvary Chapel, 4285 North Academy Blvd., Colorado Springs, Colorado 80918.
There will be a live stream of the service at https://rmcalvary.org/boxcastspecialevents for those unable to attend.
As an expression of sympathy, instead of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to the Colorado Beagle Rescue ( http://www.coloradobeaglerescue.org/donations.html). The goofy antics and love from our family's adopted beagles brought comfort and smiles through the hard times of this past year and Jerry's sickness. Memorials may also be made to our church family, Rocky Mountain Calvary Chapel (https://rmcalvary.onlinegiving.org/).
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