Roderic Karpen

Roderic (Rod) B. Karpen, age 78, of St. Louis, MO passed away May 18, 2017 with his family at his side. Rod was born in Erie on October 31, 1938 the son of the late Joseph E. and Vivian (Burns) Karpen

Rod graduated from Cathedral Prep in 1956 and received as BS degree in Industrial Management from Gannon in 1963 and a Masters in Economics in 1971. In 1981 he graduated from the Advanced Management Program at Harvard University  and in 1994 became chairman and CEO of Copes Vulcan Inc. of Lake City and Winsford, England.

Rod is survived by his wife of 56 years, Mary Therese (Becht)  Karpen whom he married on December, 26,1960. He is the father of Nancy Beyer of Maryville, IL; Patrick Karpen and his wife Dedra of St. Louis, MO and Matthew D. Karpen of Nashua, New Hampshire. Ten grandchildren survive; Erin, Lydia and Alec Beyer; Daniel, Sarah, Laura, Anna, Vivian, Caroline and Patrick J. Karpen along with a great-grandson, Felix Beyer. He is further survived by a sister, Elizabeth Karpen Cassidy of Erie; a sister-in-law, Rita Becht Kane of St. Louis, MO; nieces Lisa Walter and Sidney Cassidy and a nephew, Ryan Cassidy, all of Erie.

Friends are invited to call at the John J. Quinn Funeral Home, West 9th & Liberty St. on Friday, August 4, 2017 from 3:00 PM until 5:00 PM. A short Prayer service will be held at 4:30 PM. Inurnment in Calvary mausoleum will be private.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Unity Hospice, 6404 Wise Ave., St. Louis, MO 63139 or to St. Mary’s Home East, 607 East 26th St., Erie, PA 16504.