John Koepke

John A. Koepke M.D. (age 88)  
On August 11, 2017 in Silver Spring, MD. After graduating from Milwaukee Lutheran High School in 1947, he earned a B.S. from Valparaiso University in 1951, M.D. from the University of Wisconsin in Madison in 1956, and later a M.S. from Marquette University in 1964. Over his four-decade career, he held academic appointments at Colleges of Medicine at the University of Kentucky, the University of Iowa and Duke University where he held pathology professorship positions and served as director of transfusion services and hematology at each medical center. On sabbatical, he worked with Nobel Laureate Hugo Theorell at Karolinska Institute in Stockholm and later at Hammersmith Hospital in London. A world-renowned authority in the areas of hematology laboratory management and practice, he served on dozens of committees and advisory boards for professional associations, federal health agencies and international committees, developing a reputation in the areas of blood cell counting, proficiency testing and coagulation. More than 270 of his papers have been published as journal articles or book chapters and he was the author/editor/co-editor of 13 books on the topic of hematology and laboratory science. He deeply cared for his family and community. He was an eternal optimist, who maintained his Lutheran faith throughout his entire life. A renaissance man, he loved writing, choral music, genealogical research, drawing, painting, woodworking, travel (visiting more than 21 countries) home projects, and spending time with his wife of 62 years, Evelyn, whom he fell in love with while singing in the Valparaiso choir in 1949. She died this past March. Survivors include his children, Ms. Mary Fields of Silver Spring, Dr. John F. Koepke of Atlanta, GA, Mr. Mark Koepke of Ellicott City, MD, Dr. James Koepke of Warrenton, VA; sisters, Lois Rosenberg and Mary Moeller; nine grandchildren. Friends may call on Sunday, August 20 from 1:30 p.m. until the service at 2:30 p.m. at Moser Funeral Home, Warrenton, Interment Bright View Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Cross Lutheran Church, 1821 N. 16th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53205www.moserfuneralhome.com