Roupp, Frank G. (1882-1956)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1956 May 17 p. 1

Birth date: 1881 Aug 6

text of obituary:

Well Known Builder Called Away In Death

FRANK G. ROUPP DIED SUNDAY AT HOME IN FALL RIVER

Frank G. Roupp, 74, widely known builder, died at his home in Fall River, Kan. Sunday evening of heart attack. Mr. Roupp had suffered an initial attack about a year ago but made a good recovery and was able to again continue his work.

Although living in Fall River, Mr. Roupp was a member of the Pennsylvania Mennonite church at Hesston, where he was born and grew to manhood. He followed the carpenter trade and soon was much in demand as an expert builder. As monuments of his work are such recent structures as Hess Hall and the J. D. Charles Science Hall at Hesston college, the First Mennonite Church of Christian, Moundridge, Prairie View Hospital, the Bethel Clinic, the Methodist Children's Home chapel, educational wing of the First Baptist church, the remodeled section of the Bethel Deaconess Hospital and the remodeled book store and Review office of the Herald Publishing Co., all in Newton.

He is survived by his widow, Dora Hess Roupp; four sons, John Edward, Denver, Colo., Walter Roy, Edwardsburg, Mich., Paul E., Hesston, Carl Willard, Fall River; two daughters, Mrs. Roy Allison, concord, Calif., and Mrs. Raymond Ecton, Fall River.

Funeral services were held Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. in the new Hesston College Mennonite church, with Rev. Earl Buckwalter and Rev. Ivan Lind officiating. Burial took place in the Pennsylvania church cemetery.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1956 May 24 p. 6

text of obituary:

. . .

— A number of out-of-state relatives and friends attended the Frank G. Roupp funeral at the new Hesston College Mennonite church Wednesday afternoon, May 16. Messages were brought by Roy D. Roth, president of Hesston College, Ivan Lind, pastor of the church, and Earl Buckwalter, pastor of the Pennsylvania Mennonite church. The Hesston Collegiate Choir and a men's quartet sang. Seldom does it happen that the first funeral in a new church is that of its builder, as was the case with Bro. Roupp. The construction of the beautiful building was under his supervision, although actual work was in charge of his son Paul. Bro. Roupp also passed away on the day (May13) when the Hesston congregation held it first service in the new church. He was not born at Hesston, as was reported by the Review last week, but at Freeman, S. D.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1956 Jun 7 p. 8

text of obituary:

Large Buildings Stand As Tribute To Well-Known Contractor

Frank G. Roupp, eldest son of Geroge F. and Anna E. (Senner) Roupp, was born August 6, 1881, in Freeman, S. D., and departed from this life at the family home in Fall River, Kansas, on Sunday, May 13, 1956, at 10:30 p. m., at the age of 74 years, nine months, and seven days.

The early part if [sic] his boyhood was spent in South Dakota. At the age of ten the family moved to a farm about one mile west of Moundridge, Kansas where he lived for seven years and attended elementary and high school and was confirmed with a class of converts in the West Zion Mennonite Church. In 1898 the family moved to the farm home one mile west of the Pennsylvania church, southeast of Hesston, Kansas where he lived until his marriage.

On August 9, 1902, he was united in marriage to Dora W. Hess at the Daniel Hess home northwest of Newton. To this union were born four sons and two daughters: John Edward, Denver, Colo.; Walter Roy, Edwardsburg, Mich.; Paul Ervin, Hesston, Kansas; Clara Alice (Mrs. Ray Allison), Concord, Calif.; Carl Willard, Fall River, Kansas; Marianna (Mrs. Raymond Ecton), Fall River, Kansas. Surviving with his wife and the above-named children are his four daughters-in-law, two sons-in-law, 21 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, one brother, John, of Hesston, Kansas, nieces, nephews, and a host of friends. In the nearly 54 years of married life this is the first death in the family.

Frank was baptized and became a member of the Pennsylvania Mennonite Church in his youth, about the year 1900. He continued as a faithful member of the church during his entire life. He was a regular attendant wherever he was resident. During the 24 years at Fall River he attended the Pilgrim Holiness Church. His membership was transferred to the Mennonite Church in Wichita when the Woodland Avenue church building was constructed. After moving to Fall River, his membership was transferred back to the Pennsylvania congregation.

In early manhood Bro. Roupp was employed as a carpenter in the Newton and Hesston area, and later as a foreman for the Ellis and Singleton Construction Company in Wichita. He then launched into his own employment and became a well-known contractor and builder. Among the major buildings to his credit are a children's home in Oklahoma city, a high school gymnasium at Severy, the Railroad Building and Loan building, the new Bethel Clinic, the First Baptist Education building, renovation of the Mennonite Weekly Review and Herald Publ. Co. building, the Prairie View Hospital, the Methodist Children's Home Chapel, all of Newton, and the First Mennonite Church of Christian, Moundridge.

A distinct contribution to his own denomination was the building of the La Junta Mennonite hospital and Sani hetarium, La Junta, Colo., the administration building, A. L. Hess Memorial Hall, J. D. Charles Hall of Science and Arts, and the general supervision of the Church-Chapel building, all on the Hesston College Campus. The latter building was first used for services on May 13, the day of his death.

The only interruption of his building career was the twelve years he spent on his ranch near Fall River as a farmer and stockman. In 1944 he purchased the Fall River Lumber Yard, which he operated under the name of Consumer's Supply, along with his contracting and building to the time of his death.

The family will always cherish the memory of a husband and father who acceptd [sic] his responsibility in the home with firmness of discipline, which always won their love and respect. His jovial and wholesome sense of humor helped to bridge many difficulties and hard places. His integrity, business judgment, and fair dealing won the respect of employees, neighbors, and business associates. He was sought out by many for mature and kind counsel.

Funeral services were held Wednesday morning, May 16, 1956 at the Fall River, Methodist Church, 9:30 a. m., with Rev. John Keller, Fall River Pilgrim Holiness pastor, assisting Rev. Howard Busby of Lamont,Kansas, who gave the message. The body was then moved to the new Church-Chapel Santuary [sic] of the Hesston Mennonite Church, where it lay in state banked by many flowers until 2:30 p.m., the time of the servie. Bro. Earl Buckwalter, his pastor of the Pennsylvania Church, had charge of the service assisted by Bro. Ivan Lind, pastor of the Hesston Mennonite Church, and Bro. Roy D. Roth, President of Hesston College.

The final resting place for Bro. Roupp was in the Pennsylvania Church cemetery in the family lot beside his father and mother w2ho preceded him in death.