Mildred G. Kepler, of Shawnee, KS formerly of Kansas City, KS died Saturday, February 13,
2021 at the age of 100 years and 7 months. No funeral service is planned. A Celebration of
Life will be held at a later date.
Mildred was born June 20,1920 in North Bend Washington. She was the only child of James J.
and Clara (Knoch) Epperson. The family resided in Snoqualmie, Washington and San Diego,
California before traveling to Kansas City in 1928 where they settled on the Kansas side of
State Line Road. She attended Maccochaque Elementary School and would easily rattle off
the spelling of the unique name as was required of every student. She graduated from
Rosedale High School in 1938. There she met her husband Edward D. Kepler. They were
married May 14, 1941. They resided in Kansas City, Kansas for many years before moving to
Shawnee, Kansas. He preceded her in death in 2004. A fellow classmate would become her
late-in-life companion. James “Ed” Mayer, fondly called “Ed 2” by the family, preceded her in
death in 2014.
An accomplished artist, Mildred had dreamed of being a fashion illustrator but financial
necessity sent her to business college instead. Throughout her early years she dabbled in
charcoal and watercolors, but began taking classes in oil painting in the sixties. Her first
landscape in oils opened a new dimension and she got serious about painting. She later
returned to watercolor and portraits, her first interests. She was a long-time member of the
Wyandotte Art Association and the Greater Kansas City Art Association. She regularly exhibited
at the local art fairs and her work is represented in private and business collections in the
United States, Germany, Norway and Japan. She also taught classes from her home studio
and enjoyed watching her students fall in love with painting.
She loved nature and was an avid gardener. She was known for her beautiful flowers and had
a large collection of irises in many colors. Her passion for fashion and colors also carried over
to her wardrobe which was extensive. She was often described as beautiful inside and out.
Mam (as she was known to family and friends) was a warm and gracious hostess and enjoyed
opening their home for many occasions. Parties on the patio were a regular occasion. She was
well known for her kindness, generosity and keen mind. She loved to travel and have new
adventures, always keeping her camera ready to snap a picture of a barn or a mountain that
she would later put to canvas. Her last great travel adventures were in her 90’s when she
cruised around South America and took a European river cruise.When asked the secret to her
longevity she would reply: black coffee, dark chocolate and red wine.
She was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church for many years and then the Shawnee
United Methodist Church. She was a member and past-president of P.E.O Chapter AL.
Mam is survived by son Larry & daughter-in-law Kay Kepler of Shawnee; grandchildren Kari
and Josh Ivie, Chad and Gabby Kepler, Clint and Mary Sprague; great-grandchildren Wyatt,
Brooklyn & London Ivie, Kayla, Nicole, Levi, Allie, Justus & Hannah Sprague;
her daughter Dee & son-in-law John Hetlinger of Shawnee; grandchildren Jessica and Tom
Franco, Jed and Andrea Hetlinger & Ross and Maria Hetlinger; great-grandchildren Wilson &
Vincent Franco, Thea, Mia & Addy Hetlinger, Mason & Anna Hetlinger, her foreign-exchange
daughter Conny Jaksche of Murnau Germany and many friends and extended family who
loved her. She will be especially missed by her happy hour buddy Eudora.
The family suggest memorials to the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art