Wilbert "Willie" Poepping

Wilbert J. “Willie” Poepping, age 90 of Avon, passed away peacefully on Friday, May 1, 2026 at the Mother of Mercy Nursing Home in Albany, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 5 at St. Benedict’s Catholic Church in Avon with Rev. Edward Vebelun, O.S.B. officiating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday and from 10 to 10:45 a.m. Tuesday all at the church in Avon.

Wilbert John Poepping was born on October 17, 1935 in Spring Hill Township, Stearns County, Minnesota to Gerhard and Zitta (Thull) Poepping. He graduated from Melrose High School. He was united in marriage to Donna Mae Gertken on November 25, 1958 at St. Benedict’s Catholic Church in Avon. He worked at St. Joe Woodworking for 15 years then at Stearns Manufacturing for 26 years; retiring in 2000.

Willie was a member of the Moose Lodge in Waite Park for 40 years and Avon Over the Hill for 20 years. He enjoyed casino trips, playing Bingo and Carbles, scratch offs, playing cards, horseshoes, watching game shows and sports on TV. After he retired, he enjoyed helping on the farm.

Survivors include his loving wife, Donna Mae Poepping; children, Janice (Leon) Achmann, Mary (Virgil) Roering, Karen (Ralph) Roering, Steve (Mik) Poepping, and Roxane (Keith) Pundsack; 14 grandchildren and 34 great-grandchildren; sister, Carol Deters; sisters-in-law, Rosie Poepping, Bernice Poepping, and Vera Lou Klaphake; and brother-in-law, Tom Illies.

Willie was preceded in death by his parents, Gerhard and Zitta; granddaughter, Asha Gregory; brothers, Eugene, Alverne (Alice), Gilbert, and Ronald Poepping; sisters, Marilyn (Joseph) Wolbeck, Rosie (John) Klaphake; and Alice Illies.