Community comes together for John Kephart family
A women’s self defense class will be held on Saturday, Nov. 12, at the Guttenberg Karate Club to benefit the Kephart family after the loss of husband and father, John. Front from left are John’s daughter Kirisa, 15, middle row, daughter Samantha, 21, son Anthony, 11, and wife Amy; back row, daughters Crystal, 18, and Rachael, 27, with John. (Photo submitted)
By Molly Moser
“'How can we help?' should be our first thought when tragedy strikes one of our own. We can't change what has happened, but we can reach out so the family knows we care, and that they are not alone in their pain,” said Guttenberg Karate Club owner and instructor Nancy Trowbridge.
Women ages 13 and up have the opportunity to learn to protect themselves while supporting the family of John Kephart, who was killed in a motorcycle accident on Sept. 1. John left behind a wife, Amy, and five children, Rachael (Jonathan) Lowrey of Kansas City, Mo., and Samantha, Crystal, Kirisa and Anthony Kephart of Guttenberg.
Kirisa, a student at Clayton Ridge High School, is a member of the Guttenberg Karate Club, where students are taught to give back to and participate in the community and to have respect for community members. “We try to instill a sense of family – a sense of community – within our students. Helping our neighbors should be second nature. If we don't help, then who will?” Trowbridge pointed out.
John is remembered by his family and friends as just that sort of person – one who would drop everything to help out a neighbor in need, no matter the situation. He taught his children the essentials – to drive, to shoot a gun, to eat with chopsticks and to play chess. John encouraged his 11-year-old son to participate in Boy Scouts and coached his football team. He was a devoted member of Living Water Bible Fellowship in Guttenberg and a devoted husband, father, brother, son, uncle, friend, and a hard worker.
“Any comfort and strength we can provide is so important,” said Trowbridge. The Guttenberg Karate Club is doing so by inviting women 13 years and older to make a minimum $5 donation for the Kephart family and receive an hour-and-a-half of self defense training on Saturday, Nov. 12, from 12:30-2 p.m. at the Club at 102 Schiller Street in Guttenberg. No prior training is needed, but participants should wear comfortable clothing and arrive ready to learn.
“This class is perfect for school age girls, college bound students, and older women,” Trowbridge told The Press. Participants will learn useful, simple, realistic techniques for self-protection, as well as how to reduce their chances of having to use physical skills by learning to stay out of potentially harmful situations. “We like to say, ‘It's better to have the knowledge and never need it, than need it and not have that knowledge,’” Trowbridge explained.
More ways to help out: A celebration of John’s life is being planned for Saturday, Nov. 19, at Lakeside Ballroom in Guttenberg from 12 noon to 6 p.m. with raffles, live and silent auctions, and live music by Beau Timmerman from 1-3 p.m. The benefit is being organized by the Dam Bar in Guttenberg, where many members of John’s family have worked as cooks, dishwashers, and wait staff. Donations can be dropped off at Ole’s Five Star Realty, 502 S. Highway 52 in Guttenberg. For more information on how to help, contact Jenny Steger at the Dam Bar, 563-252-4400, or Jeff Olson at 563-379-7167. The Dam Bar has also established a memorial fund for the family at www.youcaring.com/amykephart-679800.
