General Information
Full Name: Raymond Francis Ruppert
Date of Birth: May 23, 1922
Date of Death: January 1, 2013
Raymond’s life story
Raymond Francis Ruppert
Ray Ruppert died January 1, 2013 in Floresville, TX at the Texas State Veterans Home surrounded by loving family. He gracefully, without complaint, and with characteristic great humor met the challenge of chronic illness. Born May 23, 1922 in Slayton, MN to Frank and Estella (Hartmann) Ruppert, he grew up in Jordan, MN and graduated Jordan High School in 1941. He was the oldest of three children.
Ray attended St. Johns University and University of Minnesota. His studies were interrupted by WWII. He proudly served in the US Navy aboard the USS Sicard. Combining his military experience in radio electronics with educational focus in electrical engineering and business, Ray parlayed the multiple disciplines into a career in the emerging field of vending automation. He held positions in sales, marketing, design, and management. In later years, he owned a coffee service business and was honored by the Automatic Merchandising Council of New Jersey (AMCNJ) as Man of the Year for his contributions in advancing vending legislation.
Ray and Mary Jane Tieben married on May 8, 1948 at the Church of St. Mark in Shakopee, MN. Blessed with three daughters, they shared their lives together in dance, travel, and raising their family. A self- taught piano player, Ray filled his home with the joy of music and song.
A life-long member of the Knights of Columbus, Ray was honored as Fourth Degree Knight in Princeton, NJ, in 1961. As a boy, he served Mass at St. John’s Catholic Church in Jordan, continuing to serve when returning home from college breaks. An avid hunter and fisherman, he loved and embraced the woods and waters of Minnesota where he often returned, never missing a chance to also visit life-long friends in Jordan.
Deeply missed and remembered always by those who loved Ray are his wife of 64 years, Jane; daughters, Anne Marie R. (Kevin) Gover of Alexandria, VA, Mary Jo Kathryn Newell of San Antonio, TX, Julia Alison (Joseph) McGuirl of Lexington, MA; grandsons Marc Beverly, Joalton Newell, and Justin McGuirl; great-grandchildren Logan and Sierra Beverly; sisters, Marie (James) Bach of Milwaukee, WI, Georgianna (John) Yung of Stillwater, MN and many loving relatives and friends throughout the country.
Ray is preceded in death by his mother, father, and granddaughter, Lauren Beverly.
The visitation was Monday, January 7, 2013 from 4-7 pm, at Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home 104 West First Street, Jordan and one hour prior to the mass at church. The Mass of Christian Burial was on Tuesday, January 8 at 11 am, at St. John the Baptist Church 210 N Broadway, Jordan. Father Timothy Yanta was the presider. Pallbearers were Gregory Yung, John Bach, Edward Fonnier, Justin McGuirl, Kevin Gover and Danny Phillips. Ray was laid to rest with his parents and grandparents at St. John Calvary Cemetery in Jordan, with full military honors provided by the Jordan Vets Honor Guard.
The Ruppert family is served with honor, care and compassion by Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Jordan Chapel.
The family wishes to deeply thank Ray’s daughter, Mary Jo, and Ray’s true friend, Danny Phillips, for their loving dedication to Ray’s physical, spiritual, and intellectual care in the final months of his life along with daughter Anne Marie and husband, Kevin, who arrived just in time to share his final days.
We will always carry your loving memory, forever smile, and laughter in our hearts.
Visitation
When: Monday, January 7, 2013
4-7 p.m.
Location: Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home
Address: Jordan, Minnesota
Service Information
When: Tuesday, January 8, 2013
11:00 a.m.
Location: St. John the Baptist Catholic Church
Address: 210 North Broadway
Jordan, Minnesota
Interment Information
Location: Calvary Cemetery
Address: Jordan, Minnesota
