Clinton D. Kepler
March 21, 1927-Feb. 19, 1964
Niles Daily Star, Thursday, February 20, 1964, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library
Former Niles Man, Injured in Fight, Dies
FORT WAYNE, Ind.--Clinton D. Kepler, 36, of Fort Wayne and formerly of Niles, Mich., died at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday in Veterans Hospital, of injuries suffered in a fight on Jan. 25.
Police investigation is incomplete, but John Crnkovich, 39, also of Fort Wayne, has been arrested on a preliminary charge of assault and battery with intent.
Kepler and Crnkovich allegedly fought on a downtown street and Crnkovich knocked Kepler down. In fall, the victim struck his head against a parking meter post, and or on the concrete sidewalk.
Death was attributed to internal head injuries, complicated by pneumonia.
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MR. KEPLER, a Korean War veteran, was born, March 21, 1927, in Marion, Ind. He moved to Fort Wayne from Niles two years ago.
Survivors include his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Applegate, Niles; three brothers, James, Buchanan, Mich., Howard, Fort Wayne, and Donald, Marion, and six sisters, Mrs. Ruth Gephart and Mrs. Helen Beachout, both of Monroeville, Ind., Mrs. Elsie Bush and Mrs. Pearl Ebert, both of Marion, and Mrs. Phyllis Antisdel and Mrs. Betty Crespo, both of Niles.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Pifer Funeral Home, Niles. The Rev. Marvin Arnold, pastor of the Niles Christian Faith Tabernacle, will officiate. Graveside rites conducted by American Legion Post No. 26 will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery, there.
Friends will be received at the funeral home after 7 p.m. Friday.