Joseph "Joe" Alexander Schrepfer

Mr. Joseph “Joe” Alexander Schrepfer, born on February 7, 1953 in El Dorado, KS as the third child of Mr. Robert Wayne Schrepfer of Wichita, KS and Mrs. Virginia Louise (Delaney) Schrepfer of Wichita, KS, passed into the care of our Lord on Thursday, May 18, 2023 at the age of 70.

Joe spent his early years near family in Potwin, KS before moving to Dhahran, Saudi Arabia; a place that afforded him exposure to multiple cultures and faiths.  His experiences in Saudi Arabia formed a solid foundation of his Catholic faith amongst building sand forts, tree houses on top of clothesline poles, and creating wind sails on rumble carts. The family moved stateside to Lake Charles, Louisiana, where Joe embraced all that the Cajun culture and Sportsman’s Paradise had to offer: from hunting and fishing in Calcasieu and Cameron Parishes to playing football and running track at Landry/St. Louis High School, of which he was part of the first graduating class of St. Louis.  Joe attended McNeese State University; and, while earning a bachelor’s degree, participated in Army ROTC, proudly serving in the US Army post-graduation for two years, stationed in Korea as a Forward Observer and Ft. Polk, LA. Returning stateside, he continued his education, ultimately earning a bachelor’s degree in wildlife and a master’s degree in environmental science from McNeese State University.

Throughout his time at McNeese and in the Army, Joe met and married the woman who he knew would be with him in heaven, Betty Frances (Patton) Schrepfer.  Mr. Schrepfer followed in his father and paternal grandfather’s career footsteps by working in the oil and gas industry as an operator and scheduler with Conoco (now Phillips66) in Westlake; and his paternal grandparents’ footsteps by building a small house by hand with the help of his father-in-law, William F. Patton.  Throughout his life, Joe knew he would be a father to a daughter, whom he named Erin well before her eventual arrival.  He embraced fatherhood with his one daughter, Erin Alexandra Schrepfer, whom he adored.

Mr. Schrepfer was not without exceptional engineering talents, and was self-taught in plumbing, electrical, welding, carpentry, car mechanics, marine craft maintenance, scooters, and meteorology. Joe was musically inclined without formal musical training, composing several of his own pieces on the piano.  He furthered his education in the sciences by learning physics, astronomy, chemistry, and quantum mechanics, as well as history -- particularly United States and World History.  He possessed an innate gift for studying and visualizing road maps, able to plan and navigate trips with family and friends, always keeping the best restaurants and attractions in mind.  Throughout his life Joe remained a wildlife conservationist, watercraft enjoyer, bird enthusiast, gardener, music-lover, tool collector, traveler, and western/black-and-white movie lover.  He was a proud voting member of The Citizen Potawatomi Nation, People of the Place of the Fire; a member of the Model T Ford Club of America, to which he contributed an extensive amount of knowledge to their forum; and a Founding Member of the ‘Louisiana Lizzies’ (2021).

While Joseph Schrepfer excelled at many things in life, he is perhaps best remembered for his quiet nature and his observational personality as well as a caring son and brother; loving husband; devoted father; helpful and insightful friend; and philanthropist. Mr. Schrepfer was preceded in death by his grandparents; father, Robert Wayne Schrepfer of New Orleans, LA; mother, Virginia Delaney Schrepfer of New Orleans, LA; and brother, Robert Christopher “Chris” Schrepfer of Houston, TX.  Joe is survived by his wife, Betty Frances (Patton) Schrepfer of Moss Bluff; his daughter, Erin Alexandra Schrepfer of Moss Bluff and New Orleans; his mentee-turned-son, David Dwayne Barber (Amy Gerrard) of Moss Bluff; sisters, Jane Ann Schrepfer Sanders (Stephen Sanders) of Jasper, AL and Mary Margaret Schrepfer of Alpharetta, GA.  He is also survived by four nieces and nephews, two grandnephews and a grandniece, multiple first and second cousins, and close family friends.

In keeping with Joe’s simple nature, the family asks for no flowers or mementos to be sent for the Celebration of Life Services, which will be held at Johnson Funeral Home of Moss Bluff on Tuesday, May 30, 2023 at 11 a.m. with a visitation time with the family beginning at 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service. Instead, donations can be made in his memory to one of his preferred charities: The Boys and Girls Village, 7378 US - 90, Lake Charles, LA 70615; or MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX 70030 for leukemia research.  Letters of sympathy can be sent to the family in care of Johnson Funeral Home of Moss Bluff, PO BOX 4888, Lake Charles, LA 70607.

Cremation has been entrusted to Johnson Funeral Home of Moss Bluff.