Allen Neal Kepke, died Thursday, March 29, 2018 at Brookdale Alzheimer Care Center. He was born January 14, 1935, in Cleveland to Helen and Harold Kepke. In 1958 he married Joyce Miller who survives. He will be missed by his children, Mark (Ann) Kepke, Cary, NC; Kathryn (Mike) Rudd, Fort Collins, CO; Karen (Tom) Pendleton, Bowling Green, OH; and his grandchildren, Melissa (Jackson) Kepke/Moore, Lauren and Adam Kepke, Amy and Austin Rudd, Tucker and Hudson Pendleton, and friends of Bill for 31 years.
Al was a graduate of Fairview High School where he participated in football, track and basketball. He graduated from Otterbein College BA 1957; The Ohio State University M.A. 1959; Michigan State Ph.D. 1964; and University of Toledo Law School 1983. He began his career at Bowling Green State University in 1961 in the School of Mass Communication teaching theatre management, acting and directing. Al served as Department Chair, Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and Managing Director of the Huron Playhouse. He was president of Faculty Senate during the time of the tumultuous Kent State shooting assisting in the peaceful demonstration by BGSU students and faculty. He was active in the Speech Communication Association, the Ohio Theatre Alliance, and the Association of Theatre in Higher Education. He retired in 2002 as Professor Emeritus.
Al served as resident of the ADAMHS Board receiving the 2006 Advocate of the Year award. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Clerk of Session and sang in the church choir for over 50 years.
Al and Joyce loved to travel and visited Turkey, England, China, Costa Rica, and most U.S. states. Trips to the Stratford Shakespeare Festival were treasured. He enjoyed fly fishing, skating in BGSU ice shows, Tai Chi, creating pottery, and crossword puzzles. But Al’s favorite times were the 16 annual vacations with all his children and grandchildren all over the United States, horseback riding, camping, dominoes, and downhill skiing. He loved his grandchildren and they remember his laugh.
Al’s lifelong passion was theatre and he acted in or directed over 80 plays. His favorite acting roles were Antonio Salieri in Amadeus and Professor Higgins in My Fair Lady at BGSU, Argon in The Imaginary Invalid at the Toledo Repertoire Theatre, and Amos in The Queen and the Rebels at MSU. He had a special talent for directing comedies with fast paced action like Noises Off, but also enjoyed serious drama, such as Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? And musicals, such as The Fantasticks.
A memorial service will be held at a later date when the family can gather. Arrangements have been entrusted to Dunn Funeral Home.
Memorial contributions may be given in Al’s memory to the First Presbyterian Church, 126 S. Church St. Bowling Green, Ohio 43402 or to the BGSU Theatre Department.
The family is grateful for the support of friends and the incredible caring staff at Brookdale.
To share an online condolence, fond memory or photo with the Kepke family please visit www.dunnfuneralhome.com.
