On April 14, Otto Krepper, the retired military dean of the Vorarlberg military command, passed away after a serious illness at the age of 70. Due to his great fame and popularity among soldiers and civilian staff, the Austrian Armed Forces took part in the farewell ceremony.
Otto Krepper was born in Bludenz in 1951 and enlisted in 1970 as a one-year volunteer for officer training in Absam/Tyrol. After studying theology from 1971 to 1977, his ordination as a priest in 1977 and a one-year internship, he joined the Austrian Armed Forces as a military chaplain and career officer. He led the military parish in Vorarlberg for over 38 years. For around 15 years he was also an honorary police chaplain and for more than 20 years he was the provincial curate of the Kameradschaftsbund.
The day before the funeral service, military chaplain Alois Erhart organized a small farewell ceremony in front of the cemetery chapel in Hard for the cadre personnel and civilian staff of the military command in accordance with the applicable corona protection measures. The soldiers of Jäger Battalion 23 from Bludesch also had the opportunity to bid farewell to retired military dean Otto Krepper on the same day. The solemn funeral service on April 23 was celebrated by the Vorarlberg Bishop Benno Elbs and the Austrian Military Bishop Werner Freistetter. The Corona protective measures did not allow for a large funeral and so, in addition to his family and several priests, only small delegations from the Austrian Armed Forces, the police and the Kameradschaftsbund were allowed to attend.
The numerous speakers paid tribute to his special approach to people of all ages, his high level of acceptance and popularity far beyond the country’s borders and his often critical words on undesirable social developments. The chairman of the parish council, Colonel Andreas Eberle, speaking on behalf of the military commander, said in his address: “Above all, Otto attached great importance to the cooperation of all soldiers and staff across all ranks, office titles or functions, which he also demanded when necessary.” Otto Krepper was also typically sociable. Especially in the evenings, when he unpacked his guitar and encouraged everyone to sing along with his singing, many concerns of the military parish and the soldiers of all ranks could be addressed and often resolved.
