Joan died of coronary artery disease, on June 11, 2004, at the age of 46.  Her cremated remains will be placed at Adams Cemetery near Molalla.

Joan Marie Hepler was born to Kenneth and Phyllis Hepler on Oct. 24, 1957 in Silverton. While she was growing up, her family lived in Molalla where she attended elementary school and high school, graduating from Molalla High School in 1975.

She attended the University of Portland off and on for many years, ultimately graduating in 1999.

Joan worked as a volunteer at the Molalla Fire Department in the 1970s, which laid the foundation to a lifelong career in emergency medical assistance. She became an EMT 4 and worked for several ambulance companies throughout the Portland area. Joan worked as a training instructor for the Portland Police Bureau, as well as FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency). She worked for the Oregon Fire Marshal and instructed at the Monmouth police academy and she attended the National Fire Academy in Emmetsburg, Md. As part of her life work, Joan assisted families at the Oklahoma City bombing of the federal building and traveled overseas, training physicians and staff to use emergency medical equipment.

She loved children and dogs, and was a teddy bear enthusiast, making hundreds of bears over the years.

Survivors include her parents, Ken and Phyllis Hepler of Hubbard and one surrogate sister, Dr. Roberta Ekholm.

 Memorial contributions may be sent to the Doernbecher Children's Hospital.

Molalla Funeral Chapel is in care of arrangements.

Reprinted from "Miscellaneous Clackamas County, Oregon Obituaries" on web site www.genealogybuff.com