Gwendolyn May Koepke of Coupeville passed away on April 7, 2011, in Abbotsford, B.C., at the age of 91, in the loving company of her dear Harold Huffman and his family. Gwen and Harold shared 18 years together. She felt so blessed to have two families to spend time with.
Gwen moved to Coupeville in 1974. She was employed by the Island County Sheriff’s Department as the Chief Civil Deputy Sheriff; a position she was extremely proud of. After retiring in 1984, Gwen traveled extensively throughout the world, her favorite place being Scotland where her father grew up and where her cousin, Helen Logan, still lives. Known around town as Miss Gwen, she frequented all the shops on Main Street, stopping in just to say hello or to buy her favorite apple pie from the bakery. Famous for her hats and wild floral raincoat, everyone knew when Miss Gwen was in town. Sundays always found her in the company of her dear friends, Cherry Siegrist, Pat Coffie and Regina Ernest for church, followed by an afternoon outing.
Gwen was born Dec. 29, 1919 in Vancouver, B.C., and later immigrated to the United States with her family where she graduated from Eugene High School and Eugene Business School. Gwen is survived by the family she loved so much: Sister, Doreen Williams (Ken); children, William James Koepke (Mary) and Carol Louise Hern (Alan); grandchildren, Eric Hern (Stephanie) and Krisitn Smith (Mark); great- grandchildren, Nicholas and Addison Hern, Zoe Crim and Anderson Smith; and nephews, Craig and Michael Henry. Gwen is preceded in death by her husband, William Crim Koepke, parents, Albert and Ellen (Nellie) Anderson and grandson, William Jasen Koepke.
The family would like to thank the staff at the Abbotsford Hospital and especially to Harold Huffman, the person Gwen loved so much, and family members, Diane, Paul and Kimberly Amundson, who stayed by her side during the last days of her life. Thanks also to the many people in Coupeville who looked after Miss Gwen, especially Deb Crocker, who shared a special friendship with Mother. We hope her tenacious spirit, independence, and love of life lives on in all of you.
A memorial service will be held for friends and family at a later date at the Coupeville United Methodist Church followed by a reception. In lieu of flowers, please support a local merchant in downtown Coupeville … Gwen would like that.
