Hoeppner, D. R. (1889-1965)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1965 Jan 14 p. 3

Birth date: 1889 May 4

text of obituary:

Optometrist, Former Relief Worker Dies

Hillsboro, Kan. — D. R. Hoeppner, O. D., long-time Hillsboro optometrist who was prominent in relief activities in Europe in the post World War I era, died here Sunday morning at the age of 75.

Funeral services were announced for Wednesday afternoon at the Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church, of which he was a member, with Rev. Marvin Hein officiating.

Born here on May 4, 1889, Dr. Hoeppner received his training in optometry in Kansas City, Philadelphia, and Jena, Germany. He practiced here most of his life, and in recent years had resided at a local home for the aged. He never married.

He served in a number of phases of relief work in Europe in the years following the first world war. He was a civil Red Cross field worker with a Friends reconstruction unit in France for over a year, and for six months was a child relief worker under the Friends and Mennonites in Switzerland. From 1920 to 1922 he was field supervisor of Mennonite relief work in Austria, Germany, and Poland, and from 1922 to 1925 he served as district supervisor of American Mennonite relief work in eastern Russia. His work in Russia included six months as field worker with the American Relief Administration under Herbert Hoover.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1965 Feb 11 p. 11

text of obituary:

D. R. HOEPPNER

D. R. Hoeppner, son of Jacob and Anna Rempel Hoeppner, was born at Hillsboro, Kan. on May 4, 1889. He was reared in this community and attended the Gnadenau School. As a young man he helped his father in the watchmaking business until his parents moved to California when he assumed the business and remained in it for eight years.

It was at that time that he entered an institute of optometry in Kansas City which served as the basis for most of his life's work. Some of the happiest and most meaningful years of his life were spent in service abroad. After service in a hospital here in the United States, he was active as a field worker in France as a Red Cross field worker with the Friends Reconstruction Unit; as a child relief worker with Quakers and Mennonite Emergency Relief in Switzerland and Holland for six months; as a field supervisor of Mennonite relief work in Austria, Germany, and Poland as well as eastern Russia from 1920-1925. This form of service was concluded with a half year's work with the American Relief Administration in Russia under Herbert Hoover. It was during his relief work in Europe that he was baptized and joined the Mennonite Brethren Church.

Upon his return to the United States he established an office of optometry in Hillsboro where he found much joy and ministered kindly to the needs of many people. About a year ago he suffered a serious heart attack. Although he was able to leave the hospital and moved to Parkside Homes, he never fully recovered and after another time of hospitalization died very suddenly Sunday morning, Jan. 10, 1965, having reached the age of 75 years, eight months, and six days.

Through the years he endeared himself to people near and far by the kindly spirit with which he did his work. There always seemed to be an extra amount of considerateness and thoughtfulness about him that manifested that the spirit of Christ had come into his life as Lord.

Preceding him in death were his parents, three sisters and one brother. Surviving are three sisters and one brother: Margaretha, Mrs. Abe Hiebert, Hillsboro, Kan.; Anna, Mrs. Dave Dyck, Livingston, Calif.; Lydia, Mrs. Isaac Wedel, Winton, Calif.; and Ed Hoeppner, Winton, Calif., and many other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were conducted in the M. B. Church in Hillsboro, Kan. on Jan. 13, at 2 p. m. with Rev. Marvin Hein officiating. Burial was in the M. B. Cemetery, Hillsboro. — The Hoeppner Relatives.