Jerry “Wayne” Hepler, 74, of Statesville, N.C., went to rejoice with his Lord and Savior on Wednesday, August 16, 2023.

He was a beloved husband, father, and very proud grandfather. He loved the Lord, his family, and his church family. He served as a deacon for 38 years at Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church. It was his honor to visit church members and provide assistance to them in any way he could.

Wayne was born in Statesville on January 17, 1949. He attended Union Grove School and graduated from North Iredell High School in 1967. He married the love of his life, Margaret Sue Hepler, on September 28, 1968. He proudly served in the U.S. Army from 1968-1971. While in the service, he was stationed in Germany along with his wife. While there they were blessed to travel throughout Europe. Before his death, he retired from the Harmony Transit Station, where he really enjoyed assisting his customers and visiting with them weekly.

Left to celebrate his life are his devoted wife of 54 years, Margaret Sue Hepler; his beloved children and their spouses, daughter, Gina (Clifford) Kemp, and his son Joel (Patty) Hepler. Also surviving are his cherished grandsons, McKinley and Carson Hepler and Max Kemp; along with his sisters, Carolyn (Junior) Lewis and Peggy Davis, and Edward and Helen Shumaker, who were a very special brother-in-law and sister-in-law, his neighbors and friends, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Family members that preceded him in death were his parents, McKinley and Rossie Hepler; one brother, Kenneth Hepler; his mother-in-law, Annie B. Grant (who thought the world of Wayne); two nephews, Kim Harper and Marty Lewis; and one brother-in-law, Tommy Davis.

The family will visit with friends on Friday, August 18, 2023, from 12:30 to 2 p.m. at Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church, 11635 Statesville Road, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659. A funeral service celebrating the amazing life of Wayne Hepler will be conducted at 2 p.m. at the church, followed by burial, with military honors, in the church cemetery. Active pallbearers include Nolan Shumaker, Galen Shumaker, Steve Souther, Travis Lewis, Junior Lewis and Steve Lewis. Honorary pallbearers are Bobby Howard, JD Chatham, Dallas Shew, Larry Harris, Mark Sloan and Dean Nichols.

Those wishing to make memorials are asked to consider the Gordon Hospice House or the Cemetery Fund at Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church.

Troutman Funeral Home is serving the family.