- Date Of Birth: December 7, 1942
- Date Of Death: November 30, 2020
- State: Colorado
James Michael Koepke was born on December 7, 1942 in Minneapolis, MN, and he entered eternal life on November 30, 2020. Jim grew up in Chicago, IL, and in 1960 he graduated from McHenry (IL) High School. He earned a Bachelor of Science in engineering (1964) and an MBA (1965) from the University of Illinois in Champaign, IL. Jim married Marilyn Salenick and the couple had two children, Philip and Melissa.
In the 1970’s Jim and Marilyn lived in Virginia where Jim served in the Coast Guard from 1968 to 1971 and was honorably discharged as a Lieutenant Commander, Junior Grade.
Growing up on the Fox River he enjoyed boating and water skiing as a youth. Jim was an avid cyclist and a member of the Aurora (IL) Bicycle Club. He rode the Hilly Hundred 100-mile bike ride in Indiana more than 10 times between 1984 and 1997. His son Philip and daughter Melissa participated in some of the early rides. He was a finalist in the Mid America Canoe Race on the Fox River in which he participated from 1987 to 1992 with his son Philip. Jim also crewed in sailboats in regattas on Lake Michigan.
After retirement Jim moved to Colorado in 2016. He enjoyed biking, playing the accordion, and seeing the sights of Colorado.
Jim is preceded in death by his parents, Suzanne and Walter Koepke and his wife for over 48 years, Marilyn. He is survived by his children, Philip, and Melissa, and by his brother, Jerald; sister-in-law, Mary Lynne; sisters Suzanne Jones and Karyl Fellows; and brother-in-law, Hank. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews: Jim Fellows, David Koepke, Katie Koepke, Kristen Halstead, and Katie Paolozzi.
