William Francis Lepley

William Francis Lepley

June 13, 1938 – January 29, 2023

ROSARY SERVICE: Wednesday, February 1, 6:00 p.m.  at West Center Chapel.

MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL: Thursday, February 2, 10:00 a.m. St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church 109 S 19th St, Omaha, NE

William Francis Lepley was born June 13, 1938 in Omaha, Nebraska, the son of Harry Albright Lepley and Agnes May Crawford.  He had two older sisters:  Bernita Ellen and Patricia Ann.

Bill attended kindergarten at Henry W. Yates Public Grade School.  Grades 1 thru 8 were at St. John’s Catholic Grade School.  For grades 9 and 10 he attended Harlan, Iowa High School where he played football.  He returned to Omaha where he was enrolled in the Junior class at Technical High School.

During his Junior year in 1955, Bill enlisted in the United States Navy.  He attended active reserve training at Fort Omaha.  He went to boot camp at Great Lakes Training Base near Chicago, Illinois in May 1956.  Upon graduation from boot camp, he was assigned to the destroyer, USS Trathen, based in Long Beach, California.  His ports of call were Hawaii, Midway Island, Nagasaki, Yokohama, Japan and Hong Kong.  His rank was Gunners Mate 1C.  He served two years on active duty and was released on June 29, 1958.  He served a total of 2 years active reserve, 2 years active duty and 2 years inactive reserve.  He was honorably discharged on August 9, 1961.is His

Bill met Marilyn Karpf June 30, 1958.  They were married August 8, 1959 at St. Pius the Tenth Catholic Church.  To this union were born two children:  John William and Denise Marie.

Bill had several jobs during the first two years of marriage.  May 1962, he was hired by Western Electric, manufacturing division of A.T. & T., 120 and L Street.  He retired September 2000 after being employed 38 years, 3 months and 23 days.

During retirement Bill and Marilyn travelled to every state in the lower United States as well as Alaska, Hawaii, Ireland and Europe.  Beginning in 1992, they have had 5 beagle dogs, Dusty, Abigail, Dixie, Demmi and their current beagle, Daisy.

He was diagnosed with Dementia/Parkinson like symptoms around 2015.  He was doing well until a fall December 5 which caused a subdural hematoma.  His health declined rapidly after that time.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, sister Bernita and brother-in-law Robert  Donlin; sister Patricia and brother-in-law Louis Piccolo; nephew Danial Donlin.  Survived by his wife of 63 years; son and daughter-in-law John and Meredith Lepley; daughter, Denise Lepley, granddaughters Madeleine and Landon Lepley; nieces and nephews, Shirin  Donlin Taylor, John Donlin, Michael Donlin, Patrick Donlin, Molly Donlin Snow, Kellie Donlin and Sean Donlin, Thomas Piccolo and Joseph Piccolo; numerous great nieces and nephews and great-great nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in the name of William Francis Lepley may be made to the Delay the Disease Program through Parkinson’s Nebraska research.  www.parkinsonnebraska.org/donate.