Michail Don Koepp passed away after a long and hard-fought battle with end-stage COPD, on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024, at the Diving Nursing and Rehabilitation in St. Croix Falls, WI. His light-hearted nature and amusing personality will be forever remembered by all those who knew him.

Mike was born on November 18, 1952, in Rice Lake, WI, where he spent his early childhood bike riding, building model cards and forts, and spending many fun times with his Koepp cousins who also lived in Rice Lake. Then, in 1961 the family moved to South Dakota for his dad’s work in transport; a few years later the family of seven moved to Woodbury, MN, then Cottage Grove, MN, where Mike attended Park High School.

After high school, he worked as a supervisor for King Foods and drove semi-truck for various companies. It was also during this time that he married Pam Cross. They later divorced in 1978 and Mike then moved to Frederic, WI where he was co-owner of the Skol Bar, along with his parents, Don & Jean, until 1984.

Once in Frederic, Mike met and married the love of his life, Linda Knechtel (Koepp-Lang) from Indian Creek, and they were married from 1980 until 2003. To this union, two children were born: Kessia Jo and Kyle Alan.

He enjoyed many years on the local dirt track racing circuit, following in his dad’s footsteps. After selling the Skol Bar to his sister, Mike went back to semi-truck driving until his retirement. In his later years, living in Milltown, he met and made many special friends.

Mike was preceded in death by parents Donald & Jean (Stavran) Koepp of Frederic, WI; sister and brother-in-law Patricia and Rocky (Frank) Rauchbauer of Woodbury, MN; sister Suzanne Koepp-Hitzmann-Belknap of Centuria, WI; niece, Vanessa Hitzmann-Sander of Wyoming, MN; and great-nephew Mitchel Judkins of St. Louis Park, MN.

He is survived by daughter and son-in-law Kessia and Leif Adams of Frederic, WI, and their children Austin, Benjamin and Harrison; and his son, Kyle of Frederic, WI; sister Deby (Jim) Bengtson of Frederic, WI; and sister Barbara (George) Brault of Woodbury, MN; and many other relatives and friends.

A service will be held at Rowe Funeral Home at 11:00 am Friday January 19, 2024.

Arrangements are entrusted to the Rowe Funeral Home in Frederic and the Northwest Wisconsin Cremation Center in Milltown.

Last Update: Jan 16, 2024 7:19 am CST