Kenneth Max Hepler

Kenneth Max Hepler entered Heaven on July 27, 2013. He was born on Feb. 7, 1922 in Streator, IL to Florence (Gurney) and Max Hepler, and grew up in Wheaton, IL. On his first day at Elmhurst College, IL, he met Wanda Sines, who would become his only love, and he is her only love of a lifetime. Shortly after Pearl Harbor in 1941, he enlisted in the Navy. On January 22, 1944, he married Wanda. As Chief Engineer of LST 804, he participated in the invasion of the Pacific Islands until World War II ended, Okinawa being his last invasion. Kenneth graduated from Illinois Institute of Technology in 1949 with a Mechanical Engineering degree. He was employed by U.S.G. Co. and advanced from manager of product divisions to plant manager to works manager of company towns to Western Regional Director and Midwest Regional Manager of Manufacturing, President of Mexico Operations, and President of U.C.I. Industries. His final position was as Vice President and Chairman of the Board of Masonite Corp., a subsidiary of U.S.G. He traveled to many companies and places around the world for business and pleasure. He enjoyed music (as a young man he played trombone in Big Bands), golfing, boating, and spending time with his family. He was a Mason, President of the EDH Lions Club, and a member of SIR Branch 95 and the Navy League. He and Wanda attended Shepherd of the Hills Church in Shingle Springs. Kenneth, with his beautiful smile, was loved by all who knew him. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 24, 2013, at 3:00 P.M., at the Foothills United Methodist Church, 3301 Green Valley Road, Rescue, California.