Arlo Zepper

Arlo Zepper, 96 of Perham, MN passed away Sunday, October 15, 2023 at Perham Living.

Arlo Leslie Zepper was born June 25, 1927 in Corliss Township to Henry and Clara (Quittschreiber) Zepper. He grew up on the family farm attending the local country school with his sister and a collection of neighbor farm kids.

Arlo was in the U.S. Army from 1945-1947 with most of this time spent on islands and ships in the South Pacific doing cleanup work after the war.

After his military service, he returned to the farm and worked in partnership with his parents.

Arlo married Virginia Baumgart on July 23, 1952 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church of Evergreen. Together they raised four children and developed their dairy farm.

Arlo dedicated his life to building the farm and providing for his family. He started with literally just a few cows and built it into a beautiful dairy farm. He worked tirelessly from early morning until evening seven days a week, even cutting down the trees that would be cut up and built into the dairy barn.

There had to be days where he was sick or frustrated, but he never let that hamper his get-to-work attitude or keep him from taking a moment to pet the dog or the many cats that were always running about. Arlo was a patient man.

Being a lifelong member of the Corliss Lutheran Church, he rarely missed a Sunday service. He personified his German heritage by valuing work, family, and church.

Arlo and Virgie retired to their lake home in 2002 on Marion Lake, making a new group of friends there.

After Virgie's death in 2018, Arlo moved to St. James Manor in Perham and again made another group of friends.

Arlo lived to be the oldest member of his extended family and oldest member of the Corliss congregation. He will be sadly missed by family and friends.

Surviving Arlo are his children Susan Truitt, Gene (Arlys) Zepper, Gail (Doug) Sundberg, and Tim (Cary) Zepper; his grandchildren Jason (Rachel) Truitt, Melissa (Casey) Cox, Amber (Larissa) Zepper, Nicole (Carleton) Hanson, Patrick (Sara) Sundberg, Matthew (Devon) Sundberg, and Rhett (Missy) Zepper; ten great-grandchildren; his sister Bernice Lubitz; and brother-in-law Dennis Schwarzrock.

Preceding Arlo in death were his parents; his wife Virginia; son-in-law Earl Truitt; sisters-in-law Alice Baumgart, Mildred Baumgart, Mae Schultz, and Jeanette Schwarzrock; and brothers-in-law Elmer Lubitz and Elmer Schultz.

Visitation will be 4:00-8:00 p.m. with a prayer service at 7:00 on Monday, October 23 at Schoeneberger Funeral & Cremation Service in Perham. Visitation will resume from 10:00-11:00 a.m. followed by the memorial service at 11:00 on Tuesday, October 24 at St. John's Lutheran Church of Corliss. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Schoeneberger Funeral & Cremation Service, Perham, MN (218) 346-5175 www.schoenebergerfh.com