Robert L. Eppler, born September 3, 1944, in Orange, New Jersey, died on January 19, 2022, in Phoenix, Arizona. Bob left the East Coast in 1962 to attend Buena Vista College in Storm Lake, Iowa, where he received his B.A. in psychology, and met, then married Kathleen Lierley. The couple moved to Cherokee, Iowa, where they raised their two sons, Patrick and Timothy. Bob’s career was as an educator, working as a teacher, and then as Principal of the education system at the Cherokee Mental Health Institute. He also continued his own education, receiving a Master’s Degree in Special Education and Disability in 1977 from the University of South Dakota. In 1990, Bob accepted the position of Superintendent of the Iowa Juvenile Home in Toledo, Iowa. Kathy died in 2003, and Bob retired at the end of 2005, moving to Omaha, Nebraska, to be closer to his sons and their families. He met Nancy Hansen, and they married in 2012, with him enthusiastically adopting her practice of spending winters in Phoenix. Throughout his adult life, Bob was a member, and often served in leadership positions for many local, state, regional, and national professional and civic organizations, including the Iowa Council for Children with Behavioral Disorders (CCBD), Kiwanis, and AARP. His dedication to helping children with behavioral disorders, professional achievements, and efforts to better the world around him were recognized in many ways, including receiving the 1989 Outstanding Service Award from Buena Vista College and the Iowa CCBD Distinguished Service Award in 1990. Bob lived an incredibly meaningful life, making friends everywhere he happened to be. He loved spending time with his family and friends, whether he was back East, at family gatherings in Algona, Des Moines, Toledo, or Nebraska, during a golf round, at a Yankees or Huskers game, travelling to unfamiliar destinations, or enjoying a glass of Scotch during happy hour with Nancy. He was preceded in death by wife Kathy, parents Albert and Ruth (Woertendyke) Eppler, father in law and mother in law Earl and Geraldine (Walenz) Lierley, sister in law Karen Lierley, brother in law Richard Jaeger, nephew Michael Jaeger, and niece Jessica Southard. He is survived by wife Nancy, her daughters Debi Patzner (David), Pam Coleman (Tim) and Suzie Maschino, sister Nancy Jaeger, brother in law and sister in law Tom Southard and Patrice Lierley, brother in law and sister in law Michael and Julie Lierley, niece Emily Southard, nephews Evan and Connor Lierley, sons Patrick (Michelle) and Timothy (Julie), grandchildren Madison, Mabel, and Aaron, and many other family and friends. An open house reception honoring Bob’s life will be held on Saturday, April 30, 2022 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Braman Mortuary Southwest, 6505 South 144th Street, in Omaha, Nebraska. The family requests that friends and guests make a donation to their favorite charity in lieu of plants, flowers, or memorial contributions.
To send flowers to the family in memory of Robert L. Eppler, please visit our flower store.