Verne Dale Wepner

1929 - 2025

Verne Dale Wepner, born June 20, 1929, grew up on a farm near Ripon, and passed away February 12, 2025, in Oshkosh. As a member of Peace Lutheran Church since 1962, he has served the church in a variety of ways, including ushering, and Sunday School.

He married the love of his life, Sylvia Marilyn Wepner (nee Lindeman), June 24, 1950.
Verne enlisted in the Air Force in 1950 and was honorably discharged in 1954. He worked in Grantsburg, WI, and in Rockford IL, and Oshkosh WI as an air traffic controller.

They moved into their new home in Oshkosh in 1963.
Verne tended the yard and garden at their new home. He mapped his vegetable garden every year, with room for an experimental crop. Each new crop was successful, except for okra.

Verne and Sylvia travelled to Hawaii and Germany, cruised the Caribbean, Croatia and Alaska. Also, they wintered in Pharr, Texas for 14 years after retiring from their careers. He enjoyed riding a bike around the trailer park. As a family, they travelled to National Parks-Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Glacier, Petrified Forest, Mammoth Cave, Mount Rushmore and other places such as Disney World, Disneyland, and the Ozarks.

His hobbies included: fishing-salmon in Lake Michigan to bullheads from Spring Brook, near Omro, deer, pheasant, turkey hunting trips locally to elk hunting in Colorado. He did woodworking and stained-glass craftwork.

He enjoyed playing with their grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He made leaf houses, pulled them around on a toboggan behind a snowmobile, and gave them rides in wheelbarrows. When it was time for the kids to return home, he would stick a leaf under the windshield wiper.

Verne's life is full of friends, a loving wife, and family and a rewarding career. He lived his advice: "If you want to do something, do it right, or don't do it at all."

He is survived by his wife, Sylvia Wepner; son, Dr. Terry (Teri) Wepner; daughter, Vernell (Jospeh) Theisen- (nee Wepner); grandchildren, Tom (Heather) Theisen, Dr. Jennifer (David) Mauel, Christopher (Tiffany) Theisen, Matthew (Dr. Charlene Fares) Theisen, Paul (Mai Kou Vang) Theisen, Travis (Krysty Korab) Wepner, John (Kate) Theisen; great-grandchildren, Brooklyn, Alexander, Miles, Isiah, Olivia, Emmitt, Evan, Caleb, Lucia, Micah, Philip, and James.; sister, Marjorie Burling; as well as many additional family and friends.

Preceding him in death were his parents, Paul H. and Bessie (Sharp) Wepner; siblings, Robert (Connie) Wepner, Alice (Ray) Prellwitz, John (Vera) Wepner, Betty (Cyril) Rohde; brother-in-law, Robert Burling; sisters-in-law, Arla (Orin) Galow and Elaine (Edward) White.

Visitation will be held on Monday, February 24, 2025, at Peace Lutheran Church, 240 W 9th Ave, Oshkosh, WI, from 9:00am to 11:00am, with service to follow. His final resting place will be at Lake View Memorial Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please feel free to donate to Peace Lutheran Church in his honor.


Seefeld Funeral and Cremation Services
1025 Oregon Street
Oshkosh WI 54902
(920) 236-7750