Edward Geppner

**Due to a sudden illness in the immediate family, graveside services have been postposed. They will be rescheduled for a later date.**

Edward "Rik" Geppner, 69, Of Garden City Drive in Mattydale, died unexpectedly Wednesday at the Buffalo VA Hospital. Rik was a native of Saratoga and lived in Clifton Park, NY for more than 30 years before moving to the North Syracuse and Mattydale area. He was the son of the late Edward Joseph and Edythe Adelia Butterfield Geppner.
Rik attended school at St. Clement's and St. Peter's in Saratoga Springs. He then attended the University of Maryland where he maintained a 3.8 average. Rik earned two Masters Degrees, one in Architectural Engineering and the other in Draftsmanship as well as a Bachelors Degree in Photography. He was a US Army veteran receiving the Vietnam Service Medal and the Sharpshooter's Medal and earned numerous other awards and medals during his tour of duty. Rik owned and operator Blackhawk Construction and previously worked at Allied Chemical Inc. He went on to attend St. John's School of Nursing where he graduated with honors. Rik worked as a nurse's aid and trained to be a registered nurse. He was in the Health Care field for 11 years before he was forced to retire due to a disability. Rik was a life member of: the American Legion, the VFW, the Disable American Veterans and the National Veterans Service Support Group. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Clifton Park Volunteer Fire Dept., a volunteer member of the "Compeer" Program, a volunteer member of the American Cancer Society and National Breast Cancer Center. Rik was the chairman of the VFW Voice of Democracy and the VFW Youth Essay. He was a member of the Syracuse Jay-Cees where he was their volunteer of the month nine times and a longstanding member of three senior citizen centers including: the Shendahowah Senior Center in Clifton Park, the Dunbar Senior Center in Syracuse, and the Mattydale-Hinsdale Senior Center in Mattydale. Rik was awarded Volunteer of the month on 12 separate occasions and Volunteer of the Year on four occasions. He also organized three organizations to assist other veterans serving their country. "Recycling for Veterans" collected bottles and cans to would purchase basic necessities for the patients at the VA Medical Center. "Your not Forgotten" contacted various guest speakers and visited nursing homes which housed veterans to provide entertainment and a coffee break of sorts. "Supporting our Men and Women Overseas" gathered food, health supplies and toiletries to send to the soldier's overseas. Rik was a communicant of St. Margaret's Church in Mattydale.
Surviving are his two sisters: Darlene Bomyea and Sharon Ogilsbie; a nephew, Edward Ogilsbie; three nieces: Yvonne Dickson, Sharon Gilchrist, and Hope Ogilsbie; and several great nieces and nephews.
Burial will be in Saratoga National Cemetery, Schuylerville. Contributions in Rik's memory may be made to St. Margaret's Church, 203 Roxboro Road, Mattydale NY 13211.