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Jerry F. Ruppert, age 64, of Lake Wales, Florida and Onaway, Michigan went home to be with the Lord on Thursday July 22, 2010 at Petoskey's Northern Michigan Regional Hospital, surrounded by family, after a courageous battle with leukemia.
Jerry was born on October 18, 1945 in Reed City, Michigan, the son of the late Frank and Leona (Kadwell) Ruppert. He worked as a licensed practical nurse at the State Hospital and as a school bus driver in Traverse City for 21 years and then at the Veteran's Hospital in Grand Rapids for four years until his retirement in 1992.
On April 2, 1966, he married the love of his life, Ruth Ann Skuse, at the First Baptist Church in Onaway. Ruth Ann, his wife of 44 years, survives, along with their three daughters, Geri Lynn (Neil) Bough of Elkhart, IN, Lori (Tom) Nieter of South Bend, IN, and Darci (Jason) Trumbower of Tekonsha, MI; seven grandchildren, Carli and Kelsey Bough, Shelly and Michael Nieter, and Annastasia, Aidan, and Adelynn Trumbower; and mother-in-law, Nora Skuse of Lake Wales, FL and Onaway, MI.
Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Leona Ruppert, his step-mother, Olive Ruppert; brother, Glen Ruppert; and two sisters, Eileen Ruppert and Betty Bittner.
Jerry loved spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. He also enjoyed going to garage sales, camping, and gardening. He was an avid collector of gumball machines and marbles, his collection numbering 301 and over 13,000 respectively.
Jerry was a member of Bayview Westland Church in Traverse City, Day Break Church in Grand Rapids, Tower Lakes Chapel in Lake Wales, FL and First Baptist Church in Onaway.
Jerry's funeral will be on Monday July 26, 2010 in Reed City at the Church of the Nazarene at 3:00 p.m. following visitation starting at 11:00 a.m. Jerry's nephew, Doran Bittner will officiate the service. Jerry's final resting place will be in Onaway at Waverly Township Cemetery. A graveside service will be held on Tuesday July 27, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. Jerry's wishes were in lieu of flowers to have donations in his memory be given to Hospice of the Straits, 761 Lafayette, Cheboygan, MI 49721. |
