Ropp, Katie Leona (1915-2010)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2010 Jul 12 p. 13

Birth date: 1915 Jan 5

text of obituary:

KATIE L. ROPP

Katie Leona Ropp, 95, of Hesston, Kan., died June 8, 2010, at Schowalter Villa Retirement Center. She was born Jan. 5, 1915, to Moses S. Ropp and Katherine Eimen Ropp in Pigeon, Mich.

Her family moved to Kalona, Iowa, where she graduated from Kalona High Schoolin 1933. She attended Goshen (Ind.) College one year.

She worked in a general store as a clerk and bookkeeper, at a children’s home in Kansas City, Mo., and as a secretary at the local high school in Kalona. In 1944 she moved to Hesston and became matron of Green Gables at Hesston College. In 1946 she became the first full-time accountant for the college and worked in finances until 1986, when she retired and moved to the Schowalter Villa campus. Over the years she developed many friendships with faculty and staff at Hesston College plus many from the local community. In her 40 years at Hesston she served under five of the seven presidents and attended six of their inaugurations. Many hours were spent reading, writing the Ropp family history and contributing to the recording of historical records for Hesston College and Schowalter Villa.

She was a member of Hesston Mennonite Church. She accepted Christ as her Savior in her youth and enjoyed attending church and its related activities. Her friendly and joyous spirit made her special.

Survivors include four nephews, Keith Erb of Sun City, Ariz., Curtis Miller of Pretty Prairie, Lyle Miller of Bakersfield, Calif., and Vernon Miller of New Boston, Ill.; and three nieces, Geneva Spicher Yoder of Hampton, Va., Carol Erb Dickhut of Sterling, Ill., and Donnabel Spicher Hostetler of Hesston.

She was preceded in death by four sisters, Cleora Spicher, Blanche Miller, Alta Erb and Rozetta Miller; and an infant brother, Omar Ropp.