Samuel Andrew “Sam” Caropepe
November 18th, 1935 - November 16th, 2022
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Sam's Obituary
Samuel A. “Sam” Caropepe, 86, of St. Joseph, passed away on Wednesday, November 16, 2022, with his family by his side. A gathering for friends and family will be held on Tuesday, November 22, from 3 PM until 5 PM at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Memorial contributions may be made to the Marie Yeager Cancer Center. Those wishing to leave an online condolence may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.
Sam was born on November 18, 1935, in Benton Harbor to Joseph & Mary (Bavido) Caropepe. A graduate of St. Joseph High School class of 1954, he excelled athletically in football and track and managed the basketball team. Following his graduation, Sam proudly served his country by enlisting in the United States Army. While stationed in Germany he immersed himself in the culture and people of Europe. Upon returning home he met the love of his life, Bernadette Adent. They married on November 23, 1963, and raised four wonderful children.
Sam worked at the Heath Company/Zenith Data System (ZDS) and, true to his working-to-live attitude, took an early retirement after 25 years. He held several post-retirement jobs, including at Precision Plastics before rounding out his career delivering parts for Griffin Tool, where he enjoyed traveling the Midwest and meeting new people.
Sam relished hunting and fishing with his nephew Ed (Patti) Caropepe in Texas several times a year. He also enjoyed tinkering in his workshop where he expressed his creativity by hand-carving wooden figurines, constructing ornamental birdcages, and designing clever fixes for broken household and garden objects.
His joyful embrace of life, friends, and family was clearly evident—not only during special occasions and family weddings but in the everyday—and usually he could be heard whistling a tune as he went about his day.
Sam is survived by his loving wife of nearly 60 years, Bernadette Caropepe, of St. Joseph; children, Joe (Karen) Caropepe of Seattle, WA, Lisa (Kurt) Merrill of Hobart, IN, Chris (Melissa) Caropepe of Holland, MI, and Jason (Heather) Caropepe of St. Joseph; grandchildren, Zack & Addison Merrill, Jacob & Colin Caropepe, and Myles Fischl & Leo Caropepe; brother, Vince (Louise) Caropepe; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph & Mary, and sister, Jeanette (Harold “Red”) Polfus.
Sam was born on November 18, 1935, in Benton Harbor to Joseph & Mary (Bavido) Caropepe. A graduate of St. Joseph High School class of 1954, he excelled athletically in football and track and managed the basketball team. Following his graduation, Sam proudly served his country by enlisting in the United States Army. While stationed in Germany he immersed himself in the culture and people of Europe. Upon returning home he met the love of his life, Bernadette Adent. They married on November 23, 1963, and raised four wonderful children.
Sam worked at the Heath Company/Zenith Data System (ZDS) and, true to his working-to-live attitude, took an early retirement after 25 years. He held several post-retirement jobs, including at Precision Plastics before rounding out his career delivering parts for Griffin Tool, where he enjoyed traveling the Midwest and meeting new people.
Sam relished hunting and fishing with his nephew Ed (Patti) Caropepe in Texas several times a year. He also enjoyed tinkering in his workshop where he expressed his creativity by hand-carving wooden figurines, constructing ornamental birdcages, and designing clever fixes for broken household and garden objects.
His joyful embrace of life, friends, and family was clearly evident—not only during special occasions and family weddings but in the everyday—and usually he could be heard whistling a tune as he went about his day.
Sam is survived by his loving wife of nearly 60 years, Bernadette Caropepe, of St. Joseph; children, Joe (Karen) Caropepe of Seattle, WA, Lisa (Kurt) Merrill of Hobart, IN, Chris (Melissa) Caropepe of Holland, MI, and Jason (Heather) Caropepe of St. Joseph; grandchildren, Zack & Addison Merrill, Jacob & Colin Caropepe, and Myles Fischl & Leo Caropepe; brother, Vince (Louise) Caropepe; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph & Mary, and sister, Jeanette (Harold “Red”) Polfus.
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