Sam Koepke, 84, of Oroville, Washington, passed away peacefully at North Valley Hospital in Tonasket, Washington on August 15, 2013. He was born in Aeneas Valley on July 14, 1929 to his parents Bessie and Charles Koepke.

Sam enlisted in the United States Army on July 30, 1946 and served over seas until Dec. 9, 1947 as a Cannoneer. He then returned to Washington and served in the Army Reserve for two years. He lived briefly in Republic, Wash. before making Oroville his permanent home.

Sam married Shirley Marie Doyle on Nov. 4, 1948 and together they raised three children.

Sam started working in the apple industry in 1952 for Oroville United Growers. Over the years he held various positions while working for Haskell and Burns, HeavyPack, Appleway Storage, Lake Osoyoos Growers and Oro before retiring from Gold Digger in 2003. Sam was also a Fire and Ambulance Volunteer with over 36 years of dedicated service. He retired in 1991 from Oroville Ambulance and 1996 from Oroville Fire Department.

Sam was preceded in death by his parents, 13 siblings and daughter Cheryl. He is survived by his wife Shirley, his children Vicky Walters (Travis) of Okanogan, Wash., Anthony Koepke (Peggy) of Oroville and Jarrod Koepke (Tina) of Oroville. He is also survived by his grandchildren Travis “Fred” Walters Jr., Tammy Walters, Elizabeth Peterson (Larry), Lindsay Koepke, Kyra Koepke, great grandson Justin Peterson, sister in-law Marlene Wilkinson and sister in-law Geraldine “Dennie” Koepke.

All are welcome to attend a memorial service that will be held on Friday Aug. 23, 2013 at 4:30 p.m at the Assembly of God Church, 623 Central Ave. in Oroville followed by a dinner at the American Legion, 314 14th Ave. Oroville.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Oroville Fire Department or the Oroville Ambulance.