A family man who made a difference

For 75 years, David Kepler was synonymous with the Matanuska Valley. He spent all but 18 months of his 77-year life making the Valley a better place to live for others, and for that, he will always be remembered.

Kepler passed away Dec. 15, but his contributions to the Valley -- and to his family -- will never be forgotten.

The son of Harriet Foster and Jesse Kepler was born in Macomb, Ill., in 1925, and moved to the town of Matanuska in 1927. After working as a truck driver for the Alaska Road Commission and serving in the U.S. Navy, he married Lois in 1953. The match was made in heaven.

"We were both delivered by the same doctor, who was a woman, and in those days, there weren't many women doctors," said Lois Kepler. "Our folks knew each other. I met him in Illinois, and then I moved to Alaska in 1953, and we were married."

Lois said the move was a big one, but one she is glad she made, because David's love for her made it worth it.

"He did everything for everybody, but he stayed in the background," she said. "He was committed to his family."

The strong sense of family is what kept the Keplers in the Valley. His parents settled here, and for David, there was no other place to live, especially as he got older.

"It was just home to him. All of his family was here, and it became home to us all," Lois Kepler said. "Most of the kids and grandkids are here, and there wasn't any other place we would have went. Our kids and grandkids mean so much."

David Kepler was a man devoted to his family, and devoted to the Lord Jesus, Lois said. He was instrumental in founding what is now known as the Farm Loop Christian Center, and he remained devoted to the Lord throughout his life.

"We had home fellowship meetings back then, and several men in the church worked together to have a church built," Lois recalled. "We always had such a warm church family."

David served on the Board of Elders since 1975, and the church became part of his extended family. He was always committed to helping others. The Keplers never knew that Farm Loop Christian Center would get so big -- now, it is one of the largest places of worship in the Valley.

"It grew so much, but it was always a place where you felt welcome," Lois recalled. "We would be down there working on the buildings together all the time together."

The church was a labor of love for David, but so was another thing -- the family-owned business that so many Valley residents have visited, Kepler Park Campground. Along the Glenn Highway, many people have stopped to rent a canoe from the Keplers -- since 1952, to be exact.

The business was started by David's father, Jesse Kepler, in 1952. Since then, all the Keplers have had a hand in the business, most recently Patti Kepler Swanson, David's daughter. Patti took over the business last summer -- the 50th anniversary -- and ran it for the summer fishing and tourist season.

The family built 30 campsites and eventually acquired a small fleet of flatbottom boats, canoes and, more recently, paddle boats.

They also have a small store that sells candy, soda pop, chips and basic fishing tackle. But visitors won't find any tobacco or alcohol for sale, and the Keplers ask that no one drinks alcohol while visiting, for both safety and religious reasons.

"We just love to see the people able to come down and enjoy the place. We know God has blessed us," Patti said.

Flying was another passion for Dave Kepler. Years ago, he and his wife would fly to Bush Alaska for missionary work. Lois recalled numerous visits to such villages as McGrath, Port Graham and Nikolai, in which she and her husband would not only enjoy the great outdoors, but spread the word of Christ to those in the villages.

"Mission flying was the thrill of his life," Lois said. "It was a lot of fun for us both."

It was because of mission flying that Kepler got his start in aviation. He got a good deal on a plane, Lois said, if he would use it for missionary flights. A new, lifelong hobby was born.

Flying has been a big part of life for the entire Kepler family, Lois said. David was proud that his sons and grandsons all had an interest in flying, and just last year, he had the "thrill of a lifetime," according to his wife.

"Last year, he and [his son] Mark went to War Bird Adventures, right next to the War Bird Museum in Kissimmee, Fla.," Lois said. "He got to fly in a T6, a World War II airplane. He flew aerobatics for the first time in 25 years, and it was the thrill of his lifetime.

"The instructors kept asking him, 'David, are you OK?' and he just kept flying," Lois said proudly. "He was 76 then, and they wanted to make sure he was all right."

The memorial service for David Kepler was last Saturday, in the church he helped build.

Lois said she was thankful for the number of people there to share their memories of her husband, and to lend support to her family.

"Everybody had such nice things to say about Dave," Lois said. "The support for our family has been so good."