A young Joe Koepfinger in his WWII uniform. Joe was assigned to the 104th “Timberwolf” Infantry Division, 415th Regiment, K Company.
We are sad to report the loss of one of our long attending members of the Veterans Breakfast Club. Joe Koepfinger passed away just shy of his 100th birthday.
Joe was born on May 6, 1925 in Coraopolis, PA. Before graduating from Coraopolis High School in 1943, he applied and was accepted into the Army Specialized Training Program. After completing basic training at Fort Benning, Joe attended St Bonaventure University for engineering. He was only able to complete one semester when the Army reduced the program as they needed men on the ground for the impending invasion of Normandy.
Joe was assigned to the 104th “Timberwolf” Infantry division, 415th Regiment, K Company.
The Timberwolves had landed in France in late September 1944, before moving quickly into Belgium and then to the front lines in Holland. The 415th Regiment entered combat on October 25, 1944 near Wuustwezel and Zundert on the Dutch-Belgian border. Fighting alongside British and Canadian forces in the clearing of the Scheldt Estuary, the regiment endured cold, rain, and stiff German resistance in flooded, forested terrain. The 415th then pushed southeast into Germany as part of the U.S. First Army’s effort to breach the Siegfried Line and seize the Roer River dams. The regiment fought through the cities of Eschweiler and Weisweiler, engaging in fierce urban combat and overcoming heavy German artillery and counterattacks.
As a rifleman and scout, Joe fought through to November 1944, when he was injured by a grenade. Joe spent five months recovering before being sent back to the front lines as the war in Europe was winding down. The regiment liberated the city of Halle and helped encircle the Ruhr Pocket, taking thousands of prisoners in April. The 415th’s final mission was a drive through central Germany toward the Mulde River, where they linked up with Soviet forces on April 26, 1945 near the town of Pretzsch.
Joe was honorably discharged in December 1945 and used the GI bill to complete his electrical engineering degree at the University of Pittsburgh.
In 1949 Joe Koepfinger began an over fifty-year career with Duquesne Light. During this time, he was a member of several professional engineering organizations including IEEE, IEC, ANSI. For his many contributions to these groups, he received several awards including the Steinmetz Award and the Elihu Thomson Award. After retiring from Duquesne Light, he continued his career as a consultant and lecturer up into his nineties. On many of these trips he was proud to have the company of wife, Genevieve. Together with her, he created many fond memories of their travels around the world.
Joe Koepfinger was strong in his faith and held positions in several Catholic organizations, including the Serra Club and the St Vincent de Paul Society. For many years he attended the married couples retreat at St Emma’s Monastery with Genevieve and warmly remembered these special times.
Joe was predeceased by his wife of sixty years, Genevieve (Strobel) Koepfinger, his young son John Koepfinger, his parents Joseph P. & Mary (O’Hanlon) Koepfinger, his sister Adesta (late Richard) Donnelly, and his infant brother Lawrence Koepfinger. He is survived by six children, Joesph (Coni) Koepfinger, James Koepfinger, Paul (late Anne) Koepfinger, Nancy (Robert) Rast, Margaret Koepfinger, Patricia Koepfinger, along with twelve grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.
Arrangements were entrusted to Copeland Funeral Home. Per his request, no service or memorial was held; however, please consider a donation in his memory to St Emma’s Monastery, 1001 Harvey Avenue, Greensburg, PA 15601. stemma.org
