----Source: MARSHFIELD NEWS HERALD (Marshfield, Wis.) 05/22/2002

Zepplin, Byron B. (24 JUN 1923 - 19 MAY 2002)

LOYAL - Byron B. Zepplin, age 78, of Loyal, died at 11:58 a.m. May 19, 2002, in the Palliative Care Unit at St. Joseph's Hospital in Marshfield.

A celebration of Byron's life will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at the United Methodist Church with Rev. Evan Butterbrodt officiating. A private family inurnment will be held.

Byron's family will greet friends and relatives from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the church.

Byron Baker Zepplin was born June 24, 1923, in Marshfield, the son of John and Edna (Baker) Zepplin. He was raised on the family farm, near Stratford, and received his education in the Stratford area, graduating from Stratford High School in 1940. After completing his education, Byron moved to California, for a short time, and worked for Douglas Aircraft. He returned home and worked as a cheesemaker in Marshfield. Byron was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1944 and served overseas in Germany until his honorable discharge in 1946. He was a recipient of the Bronze Star.

Byron was united in marriage on Aug. 14, 1946, to Ruth L. Bloy at Zion E.U.B. Church in Marshfield. They moved to Loyal where Byron worked for Grambsch Gas and Electric. They purchased the bottle gas business from Clyde Grambsch in 1954 and then bought the furniture business from Carl Myre in 1958. In 1966 they sold the gas business and began laying carpet. They moved their business to its present location in 1976. In 1996 they sold the business to their son Brad.

Besides running the furniture store, Byron was very involved in the Loyal community, including: an active member of the United Methodist Church where he was a former chairman of the church board a past president of the United Methodist Men served on the Loyal School Board for 15 years served for 27 years on the Loyal Fire Department where he was assistant chief served for many years on the Citizens State Bank board of directors he was a past post commander for the Loyal American Legion where he has been a member for the past 55 years and was currently serving as chaplain was a member of the Loyal Rotary Club in which he held every office served for six years on the city council was a director for Loyal Industries was very active in the Chamber of Commerce where he was honored as the 1980 Chamber Citizens of the year served on the board for the Loyal Medical Clinic and assisted Carl Myre with ambulance runs before the Loyal Ambulance Service was started.

He will be sadly missed by his wife, Ruth, of Loyal two daughters, Alana (Michael) Ziaya and Andrea (Robert) Hovick, both of Marshfield son, Bradford (Lisa) Zepplin of Loyal five grandchildren two brothers, John "Jack" (Dorothy) Zepplin of Marshfield and James (Peg) Zepplin of Schofield nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Ruth Birge.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that memorial gifts be made to the Loyal United Methodist Building Fund or the Marshfield Medical Research Foundation for heart research.