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Obituary for Dolores Ann Ruppert
Dolores Ann Ruppert, 84, was born on August 27, 1931 at Anita, IA, at her maternal grandmother’s home, to Mose Shaeffer and Freda Louise (Simon) Wheatley, both of rural Anita and passed away on January 7, 2016 from complications with rheumatoid arthritis.
She spent her early childhood in Menlo, IA where her father operated the Standard Oil station and garage, on old highway 6, and sold Star automobiles. She joined three older sisters, Muriel, Naomi, and Ruby, who all adored and spoiled her. She had a happy childhood there with many little friends to play with, several of whom she hs stayed in touch with all her life.
In the summer of 1946 the Wheatley family moved to Stuart, where Mose opened an appliance store and electrician business across the street east of Bell Telephone building. Soon after moving to Stuart, Dolores vividly remembered hearing on the radio the bombing of Pearl Harbor on Sunday, December 7th. Somehow, she, her family and many others survived the hardships of the Great Depression and WWII., and those hardships were many, but nothing like the boys oversees were going through, and as well, their families at home, as she said many times. She wrote lots of letters to those boys during the war years.
Dolores attended elementary school in Menlo and graduated from Stuart High School in 1950. She played six-on-six basketball for the Stuart Dragons, was a baton majorette with the school band, played the piano, and had a beautiful singing voice, which she displayed at the Stuart Christian Church, where she was confirmed and baptized. She loved roller skating at the Stuart Roller Rink with her friends, and going to Ernie’s Play-Land in Stuart to hear the traveling Big Bands and “dance with the boys”. She loved to dance. Lovely’s Drug Store and soda fountain in Stuart was “the hangout for her and her friends”.
At age 16 she began working at the switchboard, as an operator, at the Bell Telephone office in Stuart, after school, and on weekends, one of over 10 operators during the day shift. The Stuart terminal was very important and busy national switching station for the region during the war years, and after. She retired from Northwestern Bell in 1983 after 3 years service, at Stuart, and later at the Des Moines office, lastly as a toll fraud investigator. When Stuart went direct-dial she carpooled to Des Moines with the other gals who had transferred, and had long friendships with the other former operators that lasted for many years. Those girls had a very strong bond, and they really provided a vital service to the country during the war years, including the Korean War. In her retirement she helped with visitations and services at Ruppert Funeral Home in Stuart, which was very much appreciated by all.
On April 10, 1953 Dolores married her true love, Daryl Ruppert, of Casey, Iowa at the Stuart Methodist Church. They began their married life in a small apartment in the upstairs of the John and Loretta Burg home, and she always thought very highly of them. Daryl and Dolores later moved three doors north, where they made their home for more than 30 years.
In March of 1957 they welcomed their first and only child, Gregory. The years that followed were happy ones, due in part to a large and loving extended family and friends, whom she cherished greatly.
Daryl and Dolores traveled to many European countries over their married years, including cruises to the Caribbean Islands, South America, and excursions all over America, with many good memories and new friends made there. They enjoyed their years at the 5x80 Club also; friends and dances, golf, great meals and a much needed break from the many years of hard work.
Daryl passed away unexpectedly in 2002. They were three months short of their 50th wedding anniversary. Dolores was devastated by his death.
Mom lamented the loss of many loved family members and friends over the years. She often said that she’d like to go back, live it all over and see those people again. Hopefully, she can do that now.
Dolores loved most music, all of her life, especially Jazz and Big Band tunes, watching the “Food Channel”, and was a wonderful cook as long as she was able to do so, as her mother and sisters had taught her.
Dolores was a kind and generous wife, mother and friend, and she was the person who wrote the book on shopping and she lived to go to restaurants for a meal with friends and family.
She loved flowers and animals, especially strays and abused pets, and if she saw a stray she would often buy a sandwich from a café or find something from home to feed them. She had a tender heart and will be greatly missed.
Dolores was a member of the Telephone Pioneers of America; Communication Workers of America (CWA), Local Union 7102; Friends of the Stuart Library, and First Congregational Church of Stuart. She donated, anonymously, to the Rock Island Depot and Historic All Saints restoration projects in Stuart for several years. She enjoyed seeing them restored, and was looking forward to the finished Depot and Hotel Stuart projects.
Dolores enjoyed studying her family genealogy, but foremost, she loved being with her family, which was a great comfort to her.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; her sisters and their spouses; and a nephew, Steve Partlow.
She leaves to cherish her memory; her son; several nieces and nephews; Denny Estes (Jeanie), Diane (Estes) Federspiel (Tom), Jane (Estes) Bradley, Pat (Partlow) Taylor (Stan), Debbie Ruppert, Lynn (Ruppert) Winburn (Steve), Brad Ruppert (Sundie); their families, and sister-in-law; Helen (Ruppert) Marler; other relatives and friends. A special thanks for all the loving care given to Mom, by Denny and Jeanie and the Stuart Care Center. As Dolores said many times, she really had a wonderful life. Thank you for being her friend.
Funeral services will be held at 10 A.M. on Monday, January 11, 2016 at Johnson Family Funeral Home –Stuart Chapel. Friends may call Sunday from 1-8 P.M. at the funeral home, for viewing. The family will be present from 7-8 P.M. that evening, and one hour prior to services. Burial will be private at South Oak Grove Cemetery in Stuart.
Memorials, in her name, may be made to: Ruppert Family Trust – West Central Valley High School Scholarship Trust, already set-up to provide and perpetuate college funds to deserving WCV seniors that will major in medical sciences at college. C/O First State bank or the funeral home.
Open viewing hours will be held from 1:00 to 8:00 P.M. on Sunday with family present from 7:00 to 8:00 P.M. at the Johnson Family Funeral Home - Stuart Chapel.
Johnson Family Funeral Home - Stuart
123 N.E. 2nd StStuart,50250IA
United States
Service
Monday
11
Jan
10:00 AM1/11/2016 10:00:00 AM
Johnson Family Funeral Home - Stuart
123 N.E. 2nd St Stuart,, IA 50250
A private family only burial will be held following the service.
Johnson Family Funeral Home - Stuart
123 N.E. 2nd StStuart,50250IA
United States
Cemetery Details
Location
South Oak GroveFinal Resting Place
NE 7th Street Stuart, IA 50250
NE 7th StreetStuart50250IA
United States
Memorial Contribution
Ruppert Family West Central Valley High School Scholarship Trust
