Paul W. Rupp

Paul William Rupp, age 94 years of Niles, Michigan, father, grandfather, brother, business executive, golfer, and loyal fan of The Ohio State University died peacefully at 7:15 a.m. on Friday, August 26, 2022 at Woodland Terrace in Niles following a brief illness.  The family is grateful for the kind and compassionate care provided by the staffs of Woodland Terrace and Caring Circle Hospice.

He was born on August 12, 1928 in Toledo, Ohio to Paul F. and Mary F. (Marshall) Rupp, and was graduated from the former DeVilbiss High School in Toledo in 1947.  He continued his education at Ohio State University in Columbus earning his Bachelors degree in 1951, and earned his license as a Certified Public Accountant.  At Ohio State, he was a member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity.  He was first employed as the comptroller at the Crane Corporation.  In 1962, he came to Niles, and was employed in the executive offices of the National-Standard Corporation, served as Chief Financial Officer, and was retired in 1983.  In retirement he served as a consultant to General Micro.

Paul was a longtime member of the First Presbyterian Church in Niles, where he also formerly served as an Elder.  He served as an elected member of the Niles Community Schools School Board, was a former board member of the Niles-Buchanan YMCA, a member of the board of directors of the former American National Bank NA, a member of the former Niles-Buchanan Club of Rotary International, and a member of the former Pickwick dinner club in Niles.

Outside of the office, church, and community service, Paul had a great passion for golf, and was a longtime member of Orchard Hills Country Club in Buchanan, Michigan, and also held memberships at the Morris Park Country Club in South Bend, and the Knollwood Country Club in Granger.

Another passion was his alma mater, The Ohio State University, and Paul was a great fan of its football and basketball programs.  He was also a loyal fan of the Detroit Tigers baseball team and the Detroit Lions Football team.  He enjoyed traveling which included Alaska, Europe, and China.  In more recent years, time spent with family became more and more important.

On December 19, 1953 in Toledo he married the former Patricia A. Tolford, with whom he celebrated the remarkable fifty-nineth anniversary of their wedding prior to her passing on July 18, 2013.  Paul was also preceded in death by his parents, Paul F. and Mary F. Rupp, and by Paul’s brother, George Rupp.

Surviving family includes his children, Sharyn (& Jerry) Kaatz of Saint Joseph, Michigan, Gregory (& Debbie) Rupp of Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina, and Linda (& Jim) Ditto of Niles; grandchildren, Nicholas Rupp, Colton Ditto, and Micah Rupp; and Paul’s siblings, Phyllis Pawlicki of Stuart, Florida, and David Rupp, also of Florida, and several nieces and nephews.

The funeral service for Paul W. Riupp will be at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 1, 2022 at the First Presbyterian Church, 13 South Fourth Street in Niles with the Rev. Christopher Mergener of the church officiating.  Committal Rites will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.  Those unable to attend in-person may witness the service via the livestream, available on the Halbritter-Wickens Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/halbritterwickensfuneralservices/ .

The family will receive relatives and friends on Thursday, at the church, beginning at 10:00 a.m.  Contributions in memory of Mr. Rupp may be made to The FPC Foundation of First Presbyterian Church, 13 South Fourth Street, Niles, Michigan, 49120, http://www.firstpresofniles.org/ ; or to the Alzheimer’s Association – honoring Pat’s battle against the disease, 225 North Michigan Avenue, Floor 17, Chicago, Illinois, 60601, https://www.alz.org/ .    Arrangements were completed at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home, 615 East Main Street in Niles. Online condolences may be left at:

www.halbritterwickens.com

Ninety-four years – and one week – is a life beyond the Biblical 70 or 80 years, and Paul used those years well.  His many memberships were for important reasons, and Paul was a responsible board member, studying to be prepared for meetings.  He even selected his travel destinations carefully, although some might question his sports loyalties.  In his final years, his family became important, including a regular lunch date with his children.  All of this is evidence of knowing and following the command to love God and love people.