Margaret KOEPP

Margaret (Fairfield) Koepp, a retired psychotherapist and beloved mother of four, grandmother of nine, and great-grandmother of one, passed away Jan. 18, 2022 at The Willows of Ramsey Hill in St. Paul, where the staff had taken loving care of her for several years. She was 90 years old. The eighth of ten children, Margaret was born on the South Side of Chicago to an Irish-American mother and British-American father, Margaret and Leonard Fairfield. Her father was an artillery scout in World War I and her mother worked as an operator for Western Union upon her arrival from Ireland. Having grown up during the Depression, young Margaret sought her fortune as soon as her age allowed, and her work and studies throughout her life took her to California, Hawaii, Wisconsin, Connecticut, and finally to Minnesota, where she spent most of her retirement years in Eagan. Margaret's varied careers spanned decades and included work as a flight attendant in the 1950s, a registered nurse and nursing instructor in the '60s and '70s, and a marriage and family therapist during the '80s and '90s. Of her work as an RN and during the "glamor days" of flying for United Airlines in the 1950s, Margaret used to love to tell stories of dealing with celebrities and even the occasional gangster. But the root of her work was always care and concern for others, especially those suffering or in need. Throughout her life, Margaret's Catholic faith was her bedrock. She was a stalwart member of church communities everywhere she lived, most recently at the Nativity of Our Lord in St. Paul. There she played an active role in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, distributed Holy Communion to homebound parishioners, and served as a lector for many years. Margaret is survived by her sister Ann Kinney, her children Stephen Koepp (Lesley Alderman), Jeff Koepp, Cathy Maki (Hans Swemle) and David Koepp (Melissa Thomas); her grandchildren Kate Maki, Rachel Maki, Mark Maki, Benjamin Koepp, Nicholas Koepp, Henry Koepp, Grace Koepp, Harry Koepp and Charlie Koepp; great grandson Sawyer Osborn; and many nieces and nephews. A celebration of Margaret's life will be held at a later time when it is safer to gather.