Fred Hepp

Public visitation for Fred Hepp, 84-year-old lifetime Johnson County resident who passed away at his home in Buffalo on Monday will be held at the Harness Funeral Home Chapel on Friday, January 3^rd, from 1:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. A private family interment will take place at the family ranch later. Donations in Fred’s memory may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project at P.O. Box 75816 Topeka, Kansas 66675-8576. Online condolences may be made at www.harnessfuneralhome.com

Fred Allen Hepp was born on July 5, 1940, in Buffalo, Wyoming to Fred and Ida Bell Hepp.  He grew up and went to school in Buffalo and graduated from Buffalo High School with the class of 1958. He joined the U.S. Army in 1958 and served until 1962.  Fred played basketball for Army, and in 1960 he tried out and made it to the final day of Olympic Basketball tryouts. Following an honorable discharge, Fred returned to Buffalo and worked on the family ranch and in construction.  He was married in 1963 in Buffalo to Penny Pierson, and they made their home on the family ranch. In 1985, he attended the Law Enforcement Academy and served with the Buffalo Police Department for 20 years.  He retired in 2006 and went back to work on the ranch, where he worked until his death.

Fred was a past member of the Johnson County School Board and the Johnson County Family YMCA Board. He was an avid sports fan and loved following his kids and grandchildren’s games.  He especially enjoyed following his son’s coaching career. He was an avid reader and writer and was active in teaching church youth groups. Fred’s passion was spending time with his family and being on the ranch. He is survived by his wife Penny of Buffalo; one son John Hepp and his wife Dia of Buffalo; three daughters, Madonna Esponda and her husband Johnny of Buffalo, Kimberly Koch and her husband Dea also of Buffalo and Heather Pebbles and her husband Billy of Thermopolis, Wyoming; one sister Elizabeth Mills of Sheridan; nine grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother Chuck and one sister Harriet.