Carol Jean Koepplin

Carol Ogren Koepplin passed away on June 25, 2026 at home in Urbandale, Iowa. She was 79 years young. A celebration service will be held on Tuesday, June 30, 2026 at 11:00am at St. Stephen Lutheran Church (3510 72nd Street in Urbandale) with a luncheon to follow.

Carol was born on January 2, 1947, in Sidney, Nebraska, to Babe and John Ogren. She attended Fremont High School where she led and edited the school newspaper and yearbook. She played the flute in the marching band, where she met her future husband on the bus after a football game.

Carol attended Midland College and majored in Journalism, planning to teach high school students. She married Richard Koepplin on June 6, 1969, the start of the loving family legacy they would build in the many years to come. After moving to Fort Dodge, Carol worked with special education students her whole career, starting at Duncombe Elementary. Discovering her true love of teaching, she went back to school, traveling back and forth to Cedar Falls three times a week for several summers, earning her master's degree. She then tutored and led the VESS program for 27 years, helping high school students transition to vocational education to become happy and successful adults.

Carol spent her life caring for others in every way. She has always participated in her church and in her community - from serving on committees and councils, donating gallons of blood, volunteering for the Red Cross, and announcing high school softball games.

Carol is survived by her husband of 57 years, Richard, and her two daughters, Elizabeth and Chris as well as her two granddaughters, Chelsey and Maya, and her beloved cat, Sunny.

Special thanks to the staff on Powell 3 who not only took incredibly good care of our wife, mom, and grandma, but who also quickly grew to love her like we all do.

Memorial contributions may be made in Carol's honor to a charity or nonprofit organization of your choice.

In celebration of Carol, the family encourages everyone attending the service to wear purple or other bright colors.