The family of a St. Paul man killed earlier this month by a hit-and-run driver in Maplewood is asking anyone with information concerning the case to contact authorities.

Police say 56-year-old Mark Koepke was fatally struck by a blue minivan on the evening of Dec. 9 while out for a walk near the house he shared together with his ex-wife, Darice Koepke, who appeared at a Tuesday news conference with investigators.

“Losing someone is tough at any time of yr, but losing someone at the vacations is incredibly difficult for our family,” she said. “We might really very much appreciate for somebody to come back forward.”

The family and Crime Stoppers are offering a combined reward of $2,000 for information that results in the arrest of the motive force.

Officers found Mark Koepke lying on the street critically injured about 10 p.m. at McKnight Road and Margaret Street, said Lt. Joe Steiner of the Maplewood Police department, who also appeared on the news conference. Koepke was pronounced dead on the scene.

Based on vehicle parts recovered on the scene, Steiner said investigators imagine the van that struck Koepke was a dark blue Dodge Caravan manufactured between 2011 and 2020. The correct side of the van’s front end was damaged within the crash.

Steiner said it appears the motive force of the van didn’t stop after striking Koepke.

Darice Koepke described her ex-husband as “an absolute teddy bear” with a tough-guy exterior, adding that he cared for his ailing mother until her death last yr.

She also spoke on to the motive force who struck Mark Koepke.

“Please come forward,” she said. “Clear your conscience. Give us some closure and a few justice for Mark.”

Police asked anyone with information concerning the case to call Steiner at 651-249-2608 or email him at Joe.Steiner@maplewoodmn.gov.