Edward Leo Geppner "Geppy", 95 years old, of Bridgewater, MA passed away peacefully on Thursday, November 21, 2019 surrounded by his loving family. He was the husband of the late Marion C. (Griswold) Geppner and partner of Joanne Lyndon. Edward was born in Worcester, MA on August 20, 1924 and raised in Hudson, MA. He was the youngest of three children of Thomas B. Geppner and Catherine "Kitty" O'Malley. He attended St. Michael Grade School and Hudson High School where he played varsity basketball and was captain of the team his senior year. Upon graduation, he attended Cambridge School of Physical Therapy. In April 1943, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and upon completion of Basic Training entered into the Medical Corps. He served during World War II, in the Hawaiian Islands where he completed a successful tour of duty until his Honorable discharge in 1946. Following his discharge, he was employed at the V.A. Hospital in West Roxbury as a Physical Therapist. During that year, he married his high school sweetheart, Marion Griswold. They raised their family of seven children in Bridgewater, MA. He later transferred to the Brockton V.A. Hospital where he worked in Physical Therapy and Recreation until retirement. He developed many friends while at the VA and would often lean on them for assistance with "Do it yourself projects" that went awry. Ed loved swimming and earned his Water Safety Instructor and Lifeguard Certifications while at the VA and swam several days a week. Ed was known to everyone as a family man. This extended to not only his own family, but friends of his children. Many thought of Ed as a second father and everyone was welcome in his home. Ed's life revolved around his family including his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and Joanne's children and grandchildren. He never missed a graduation, a recital, First Communion, Confirmation, or any important activity in his combined family members' lives. He always remembered to send a card with a special personal message to each recipient. If Ed was invited he would be there. Every grandchild and great-grandchild talks about "Geppy or Great Geppy" as a very important part of their lives. Ed taught his children the value of having a work ethic by working several part time jobs while still doing his full time job at the VA Hospital. He spent many a night working at Stengel's Liquor Store, driving cabs for Bill's Taxi and many more. Despite this, every morning he would be in the kitchen making each of his children breakfast and helping Marion get everyone off to school. Ed was an avid golfer and organized the first golf league for VA employees in 1965 that is still in operation today. He loved photography and had a darkroom set up at the Brockton VA where he worked. He took hundreds of team pictures over the years for local school children as well as wedding photography and other functions. Ed spent 36 years of retirement in Bridgewater and Floral Lakes in Bartow, Florida where he loved the warm winters. In Floral Lakes he enjoyed holding court with friends and family from his lanai. He organized and ran a weekly golf league at the Bartow Golf Course for the residents of Floral Lakes. He welcomed friends and family visits every year while he was in Floral Lakes. Ed continued to play in the VA golf league every Tuesday night well after his retirement. Every Friday for 15 years at Easton Country Club the weekly "chicken match" was played with his son Richard and a regular rotation of John "JR" Romeo, Warren "EEE" Nelson, and Mark Doyle. Ed was an avid sports fan and loved his local Boston teams. He looked forward to every season and having passionate discussions of how the team would do that year. The fact that he would never have to say "wait till next year" for the Red Sox was a big thrill in 2004. Part of the reason he picked Bartow to spend his winters was that it was next to the Red Sox original spring training camp in Winter Haven. He particularly loved gatherings on Sundays with family and friends for the Patriots games and watching them win another game. Ed traveled extensively over his life, including spending two months in Hawaii after he retired with his beloved Marion, and his later retirement years with his Joanne. Looking through his photo albums revealed how many travel adventures he had throughout the U.S. Ed had a bit of Don Quixote in him as he had a proclivity for writing letters to the editor to right the wrongs he saw around his town and the people in it. Ed initiated the first successful action to unionize newspaper delivery workers on behalf of his sons, which resulted in higher wages. Ed is survived by his partner, Joanne Lyndon; seven children: Richard Geppner and his wife, Kate, Edward "Ted" Geppner and his wife, Paula, Pamela Geppner and her partner, George Crupi, Suzanne Cooper and her husband, Paul, Timothy Geppner and his wife, Susan, Daniel Geppner and his wife, Maryann, and Patricia Geppner-Braga and her husband, Joseph; twelve grandchildren: Jennifer Connolly, Michael Geppner, Zachary Cooper, Katie Salinas, Alexandra McQuade, Elizabeth Geppner, Alyson Golder, Maxwell Cooper, Meghan Geppner Drewniak, Jessica Levy, Danielle Levy, and Brianna Geppner; and twelve great-grandchildren: Bridget Connolly, Fiona Connolly, Braeden Connolly, Amelia Salinas, William Geppner, Fallon McQuade, Mateo Salinas, Rachel Geppner, Clover McQuade, Charlotte Drewniak, Olive Golder, and Edward McQuade; Joanne's grandchildren, Matthew and Marisa Wall, Aiden, Lorraine, Lisa and Eva Byrne; Thomas Lyndon; and Caroline and Sarah Lyndon. He was predeceased by his wife, Marion C. Geppner, his brother, George B. Geppner, and sister, Marie MacKenzie. Funeral from the Russell & Pica Funeral Home, 441 South Main St., West Bridgewater on Monday, December 2, 2019, at 9:00 AM, thence to St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 103 Center St., Bridgewater, where a funeral Mass will be celebrated for the repose of his soul at 10:00 AM. Interment to follow in Pine Hill Cemetery, West Bridgewater. Calling hours in the funeral home on Sunday, December 1, 2019, from 1:00-5:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 309 Waverly Oaks Rd., Waltham, MA 02452 or act.alz.org