Rupp, David O. (1881-1958)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1958 Dec 4 P. 6

Birth date: 1881 Sep 24

text of obituary:

. . .

— David O. Rupp, 77, well-known retired farmer of Moundridge, died Monday at Mercy Hospital there. He was born at the farm home northeast of Moundridge on Aug. 22, 1881 [sic Sep. 24, 1881]. Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon at the West Zion Mennonite church. Mr. Rupp is survived by his wife, one son, Wilson, of Hesston, and one brother, Otto C. Rupp of Newton.

---

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1958 Dec 18 p. 8

text of obituary:

DAVID O. RUPP

David O. Rupp, the youngest son of John J.and Mary Hach Rupp, was born Sept. 24, 1881, on the farm to which his pioneer parents had moved from Washington County, Iowa, in 1876, following the extension of the Santa Fe railway to Halstead in 1876. Other members of the family had moved to pioneer McPherson county farms two years earlier, but the John Rupp family was delayed two years by the serious illness of David's mother. He was named after one of the uncles who had come to Kansas earlier, and who died three weeks before David's birth.

He departed this life Dec. 1, 1958. Although he had been in failing health in the last year, death came unexpectedly and quietly.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Effie; one son, Wilson, and his wife Lorraine; by two grandsons, David and Kenneth; one granddaughter-in-law, Charlene (David's wife); by a brother, Otto; and numerous nephews, nieces, grandnephews and grandnieces.

He was preceded in death by his parents; three older brothers, John, Edward and William; two older sisters, Emma and Clara; and by one younger sister, Esther, who died in infancy.

David attended the Farms school where three generations of his family have been receiving their elementary education since it was organized. He did not have the opportunity of an advanced formal education, but before he had completed the first grade he had made a trip to Europe with his brother, Otto, and their parents to visit the Bavarian homeland of the parents. It was on this trip that his father arranged to import a Belgian stallion that became the sire of many fine horses that the young David helped train. This early experience developed his fondness for fine horses.

At an early age David was baptized and received into the membership of the new West Zion Mennonite church by Rev. William Galle, one of the founders of the church in 1888. He remained a faithful member until his death.

On Jan. 1, 1912, David was married to Effie Kaegi, the oldest daughter of Chris and Emmaline Kaegi. David's home was always the center of his life. In his small family he strove to maintain the principles he had learned in a pioneer family that was guided by strong Christian faith. He and his wife enjoyed several trips together, but when his wife's health began to fail, life lost much of its savor. When his wife became a complete invalid, his grief and compassion became a heavy cross.

Although he was the youngest in a family of seven, David became a family balance wheel. His brothers learned to turn to him for guidance and counsel. He leaves nephews who lost their father early who will be eternally grateful to David for the help and guidance he gave when it was needed. It fell to his lot to become the steward of the pioneer farm which his own father had settled when he first came to Kansas.

Funeral services were conducted in the West Zion Mennonite Church of Moundridge on Dec. 3, Rev. Harris Waltner officiating.