Frank William Koebel Jr., 77, of Fenton died March 9, 2022, in Sullivan. Mr. Koebel served four years in the U.S. Air Force, including a tour of Vietnam. After being honorably discharged, he went to work for IBM as a field engineer, repairing IBM computers in the entire Gateway region and receiving many awards for his exemplary service all the way to retirement. While working at IBM he met and later married Debbie Silverberg. Although the two divorced after 20 years, they remained close friends, often attending family gatherings together.
Mr. Koebel was known as a compassionate person and a problem-solver, willing to help anyone in need. He loved the outdoors and could never pass up a good fishing or hunting trip. He loved fixing classic cars and in the 1970s he worked on the original BigFoot monster truck. He enjoyed truck pulls, building the trucks and traveling the USA driving and re-engineering monster trucks with his sister and brother-in-law, Mary and Richard Wynn. He was born March 14, 1944, in Fenton, the son of the late Frank M. and Irene R. (Conrad) Koebel.
He is survived by two children: Frank William Koebel III and Mathew Richard Koebel; a stepson: Eric A. Pruiett; three granddaughters: EllieMae Jolene, Alexandria Rose and Sophia Helen Koebel; three siblings: Betty Flanigan, Mary (Richard) Wynn and William (Kathy) Koebel; many nieces and nephews; and numerous extended family members and friends. He was preceded in death by a sister: Joyce (Robert) Casteel; and a stepson: Larry Allen Pruiett.
Visitation is scheduled from 4-8 p.m. Wednesday, March 16, at Chapel Hill Mortuary, 6300 Hwy. 30, in Cedar Hill. A processional will begin from the funeral home at 10 a.m. Thursday, March 17, and heading to the National Cemetery at Jefferson Barracks. Memorials may be made to the Dementia Society of America or to a local VFW post. Arrangements are under the direction of Chapel Hill Mortuary.