Donna Maxine Cooper Rupalo, 1926-2012

From http://www.tributes.com

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  Donna M. Rupalo, daughter of Leo C. and Lennie M. (Hamm) Cooper was born November 12, 1926 in Mystic, Iowa. She passed peacefully from this life at the Mercy Medical Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa on January 13, 2012 at the age of 85.
  Donna graduated from Mystic High School in May of 1943 at the age of 16. She moved to Des Moines, where she lived in the Highland Park area, working for a local clothing store. She then attended Centerville Jr. College earning her teaching certificate, and later taught at the Swan rural country school. She became engaged to her only love, Walter Rupalo on January 16, 1947 later being married on May 22, 1947 at the Methodist Church in Centerville, Iowa.
  They made their home in Rock Island, Illinois, until February of 1952 when they bought their present farm on the south edge of Seymour. To this union three children were born; Duane, Beverly and Marilyn. Donna was a member of the Seymour Christian Church where she served as Secretary of the Board more than 25 years. During most of that time she was responsible for organizing dozens of courtesy meals for grieving church friends. As her eyesight and health failed the last few years, she missed the ability of attending church services and activities.
  Donna loved her family and spent most of her time seeing to their needs and planning for family gatherings. She particularly loved to host large family Thanksgiving dinners and Christmas Eve soup suppers. She took after her father believing there was no such thing as a small garden. She canned and froze vegetables so there would be plenty during the winter months. Donna was known as a wonderful cook and would take special orders for pie as she prepared for the many bake sales for the church. She also loved flowers and had a large variety growing in special spots around her yard.
  She took special enjoyment from her grandchildren and took pride in all their accomplishments. Whether it was a ballgame, school test, or job interview, she was always concerned regarding how they did and praised them. When she knew the grandchildren were coming she made sure to cook their favorites.
  Preceding Donna in death were her husband of almost 54 years, Walter Rupalo; her parents; her brothers, Charles Stanley Cooper, Dr. A. W.(Bill) Cooper, Dr R. E. (Dick) Cooper and Dr. Gary V. Cooper; her sister, Carol M. Cooper; a brother-in-law, Wayne Larson and a nephew, Bruce Cooper.
Survivors include son, Duane and his wife Sarah of Seymour, daughter Beverly and her husband Jerry Walsh of Bondurant Iowa and daughter, Marilyn and her husband Jeff Walsh of Pleasant Hill, Iowa, her grandchildren, Kelly and Deena Rupalo and Tyler, Shelby, Jay and Allison Walsh; brother, LeRoy and Joyce Cooper of Glen Carbon, Illinois; sisters Betty Larson of Des Moines and JoAnn and Jim Costello of Burlington, Iowa; sisters-in-law, Barbara Cooper of Seymour and Sharon Cooper of Centerville plus a host of nieces and nephews and many friends.

Charles Rupalo [Kazimierz Rupalla],1893-1976

Charles Rupalo [Kazimierz Rupalla], 1893-1976

  Charles Rupalo (Kazimierz Rupalla), son of John Rupalo and Mary Helmen, was born in Jaworzno, Galicia Province, Austria, 2 March 1893, during the Austro-Hungarian Empire.  He was raised in this area which later became part of independent southwest Poland.  He departed this life at the Wayne County Hospital in Corydon, Wayne County, Iowa on 28 December 28 1976: aged 83 years, 9 months and 26 days.   

  At the age of 19 he came to America, naturalized at Ellis Island on 12 December 1912.  He settled in Appanoose County Iowa and spent a majority of his life coal mining.  At the age of 52 he left the coal mines and began farming near Numa in Lincoln Township, Appanoose County, IA.   

  On 8 September 1918, he was united in marriage to Maggie Gorman, making their home near Diamond, Iowa. Upon his retirement from farming in 1966, they moved to Seymour, Wayne County, Iowa to make their home. 

  Besides his widow, he is survived by six children:  Mrs. Wanda McFarland (Cecil) of Longmont, Colo., Walter Rupalo (Donna) of Seymour, Wilbur Rupalo (Fern) of Centerville, Mrs. Louise Newby (Kenneth) of Donnellson, Mrs. Carolyn Inman (Wendell) of Corydon, and Mrs. Eleanor Ferren of Austin, Texas.  Also surviving are 15 grandchildren, one great grandchild, one nephew, and three nieces. 

  Funeral was Thursday, 30 December 1976  at the Liggett-Randolph Funeral home in Seymour with Rev. Louis Schaffner officiating.  Milton Albertson sang requested hymns, accompanied by Mrs. Iris Merritt.  Pallbearers were Harold McElvain, Dan Jones, Roger DeVore, Dr. A.W. Cooper, Roger Park and Stanley Cooper. Burial was in Southlawn Cemetery, Seymour, Wayne County, Iowa. 

Card Of Thanks

  The Charles Rupalo family wishes to express sincere thanks to friends and neighbors for food, flowers and expressions of sympathy in the recent death of our father, husband and grandfather. 

Family of Charles Rupalo

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  Obituary of Charles Rupalo emailed to the editor of The Jerome Journal on 16 January 2012 by Lauretta Newby [lnewby@southslope.net], granddaughter, and edited by Bill Hawkins.

Maggie Gorman Rupalo, 1901-1994

For an Unidentified 1994 Newspaper Obituary

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  Maggie Rupalo was born Nov. 12, 1901 in Jerome, Iowa, the daughter of Brown and Sally (Swroah) Gorman, the middle child of five children. She passed away Sept. 2, 1994 at the Wayne County Hospital, Corydon, after several years of failing health, at the age of 92 years, 9 months, 20 days.

  She was united in marriage to Charles Rupalo on Sept. 8, 1918 and to this union six children were born.

  She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Charles; two brothers and two sisters.

  Maggie leaves to mourn her passing her six children: Wanda McFarland and her husband Cecil of Longmont, Colorado; Walter Rupalo and wife Donna of Seymour, Iowa; Wilbur Rupalo and wife Fern of Centerville; Louise Newby and husband Kenneth of Donnellson, Iowa; Carolyn Inman and her husband Wendall of Corydon and Eleanor Ferren of Austin, Texas. Also surviving are 15 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; one sister and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

  Funeral services were held Tuesday, Sept. 6, 1994 at 10:30 a.m. from the Randolph Funeral Home, Seymour, with Pastor DeWayne Lawson officiating. The hymns "Abide With Me" and "The Old Rugged Cross" were sung by Milton Albertson, accompanied by Bernace Kerwin, pianist. Pallbearers were Dennis Inman, Duane Rupalo, Larry Newby, Dwayne Newby, Randy Rupalo and Charles Ferren. Interment was in the Southlawn Cemetery, Seymour. A memorial was established to the Seymour First Responders.

Card of Thanks

  The family of Maggie Rupalo would like to thank all their relatives and friends for their phone calls, cards, food, flowers, memorials and words of comfort.

  Sincere thanks to Dr. Wells and the staffs of the Wayne County Hospital and Corydon Care Center. Special thanks to Seymour First responders for their prompt and courteous response.

  Thanks also to Pastor Lawson and the ladies of the Seymour Christian Church for the luncheon following the service.

Mr. and Mrs. Walter Rupalo and Family

Mr. and Mrs. Wendell Inman and Family

Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur Rupalo and Family

Mr. and Mrs. Cecil McFarland and Family

Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Newby and Family

Mrs. Eleanor Ferren and Family

Walter Rupalo, 1922-2001

Daily Iowegian - 15 May 2001

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  Walter Rupalo, 79, of Seymour died Sunday, May 13, 2001.

  He was born Jan. 14, 1922, in Diamond, the son of Charles and Maggie (Gorman) Rupalo.

  He married Donna Cooper May 22, 1947, at the Methodist Church in Centerville. She survives.

  Also surviving are a son, Duane and his wife, Sarah; two daughters, Beverly Walsh and her husband, Jerry, of Bondurant and Marilyn Walsh and her husband, Jeff, of Pleasant Hill; a brother, Wilbur Rupalo of Centerville; four sisters, Wanda McFarland of Longmont, Colo., Louise Newby of Donaldson, Carolyn Inman of Seymour and Eleanor Ferren of Austin, Texas; brothers-in-law, Dr. A. W. Cooper and his wife, Barbara, of Seymour, Dr. R. E. Cooper and his wife, Sharon, of Centerville, Wayne Larson and his wife, Betty, of Des Moines, Stanley Cooper of Mystic, and Leroy Cooper and his wife, Joyce, of Glen Carbon, Ill.; sisters-in-law Carol Cooper of Centerville and JoAnn and Jim Costello of Burlington; six grandchildren; and other relatives.

  Preceding him in death were his parents; a sister-in-law, Fern Rupalo; and brothers-in-law Kenneth Newby and Gary Cooper.

  He served in the Army during World War II in France, England and the Philippines. After hs discharge in 1946 he worked for International Harvester in Rock Island, Ill., until 1952 when he and his wife moved to their farm near Seymour. He was a member of the Seymour Christian Church and also served as a city council member and was on the board of the Farmers Co-op.

  Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Seymour Christian Church with the Rev. DeWayne Lawson officiating. Visitation will begin after 1 p.m. today, Tuesday, at the Randolph Funeral Home in Seymour, with family present from 6 to 8 p.m. Interment will be in Southlawn Cemetery in Seymour.

  A memorial has been established to the Seymour Christian Church. 

Wilbur Rupalo, 1924-2009

The Seymour Herald - 5 November 2009

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  Wilbur Rupalo, 85 of Centerville passed away Tuesday, October 27, 2009 at Corydon Nursing & Rehab. 

  Wilbur was born in Diamond, Iowa on January 10, 1924 to Charles & Maggie (Gorman) Rupalo. He married Fern Cecil Dixon on March 18, 1967. Wilbur worked for REC Electric for a short time. He spent the majority of his life as a farmer. Wilbur enjoyed farming, attending auctions and time spent with his family.
  Wilbur is survived by two children, Randy Rupalo (Karla) of Centerville, Michelle Brooke (Richard) of Numa, five grandchildren, Maranda, Marissa, Malinda, Marriah Rupalo and Abbie Pangburn, four sisters, Wanda McFarland (Cecil) of Longmont, Colorado, Louise Newby of Donaldson, Iowa, Carolyn Inman, of Seymour, Eleanor Ferren of Austin, Texas, sister-in-law, Donna Rupalo of Seymour, sister-in-law, Lenora Couchman of Corydon and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Fern Rupalo on April 12, 1997 and a brother Walter Rupalo. 

  Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m., Friday, October 30, 2009 at Thomas Funeral Home with Rev. Jim Matheney officiating. Interment will be in Sharon Chapel Cemetery. Visitation will be all day Thursday with the family present from 6-8 p.m.. Memorials may be given to the Sharon Chapel Cemetery Association which may be left at or mailed to Thomas Funeral Home -- 23548 Hwy 5 -- PO Box 125 -- Centerville, Iowa 52544. 

Edward Potter Inman & Cleo Olive Norris

  Edward Potter Inman was born 23 April 1893 in Appanoose County, Iowa, son of Alexander Inman and Laura Hattie Johnson, married first 28 November 1917 Cleo Olive Norris, died 4 May 1979 in Appanoose County, Iowa, and was buried in the Jerome Cemetery, Lincoln Township, Appanoose County, Iowa.    Cleo Olive Norris was born 29 July 1896 in Appanoose County, Iowa, daughter of Lewis J. Norris and Minnie Crist, died 11 February 1947 in Appanoose County, Iowa, and was buried in the Jerome Cemetery, Lincoln Township, Appanoose County, Iowa

  To this union were born seven sons:

  (1) Earnest Lazelle Inman was born 24 December 1918 in Appanoose County, Iowa, married 15 August 1937 Ruth Irene Bland, died 2 October 1948 in Appanoose County, Iowa, and was buried in the Jerome Cemetery.  Ruth Irene Bland was born 17 January 1918 in Missouri, daughter of Edwin William Bland and Leah Hope Howard, died 2 March 1997 in Gillette, Campbell County, Wyoming, and was buried in the Jerome Cemetery.  Two children were born of this marriage: Richard Lazelle Inman and Cleo (Jerri) Irene Inman.

  (2) Byron Norris Inman was born 6 April 1920 in Appanoose County, Iowa, married 1 January 1945 Norma Bales, died 1 January 2002 at the Seymour Care Center, Seymour, Wayne County, Iowa, and was buried in Southlawn Cemetery, Seymour, Wayne County, Iowa.  Norma Bales was born 10 April 1924, daughter of Charles Bales and Beola Burkhiser, died 11 July 1997 at University Hospitals in Iowa City, Iowa, and was buried in the Southlawn Cemetery in Seymour, Iowa.  Two children were born of this marriage: Dixie Inman and Charles Inman.

  (3) Ralph Wendall Inman was born 10 October 1922 in Appanoose County, Iowa, married 12 October 1947 Carolyn Rupalo at the Jerome Methodist Church, died 30 March 2005 in Seymour, Wayne County, Iowa, and was buried in the Jerome Cemetery.  Two children were born of this marriage: Dennis Inman and Diane Inman.

  (4) Milfred Duane Inman was born 7 December 1924 in Appanoose County, Iowa, married 24 April 1949 Margaret L. Hughes, died 8 May 2003 in Las Vegas, Clark County, Nevada, and was buried in the Jerome Cemetery, Appanoose County, Iowa.

  (5) Arthur Erwin Inman was born 26 April 1928 in Numa, Appanoose County, Iowa, married 26 December 1948 Marjorie McElvain in the Jerome Methodist Church in Jerome, Iowa, and died 30 October 2004 while living in Littleton, Jefferson County, Colorado.

  (6) Kenneth Inman - Living.

  (7) Donald Inman - Living.

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  About four years after the death of Cleo Olive Norris Inman in 1947, Edward went to Tennessee to visit his boyhood sweetheart Mattie Tishaw.  Her husband had died and Edward brought her back to Iowa.  They were married on 20 August 1951 on the lawn of his farm home between Jerome and Numa. The Rev. M. R. Gonzalez of the Jerome Methodist Church performed the ceremony.

Inman-Tishaw Wedding Day - 20 August 1951

Byron Inman, Edward Inman, Rev. M. R. Gonzalez, 

Mattie (Tishaw) Inman, Norma (Bales) Inman.

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  The editor sincerely appreciates the contribution to The Jerome Journal of the above photographs and information on Edward P. Inman's second marriage by Richard Inman of Hamilton, Ohio. 

Obituary: Ralph Wendall Inman

Unidentified Newspaper Obituary

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  Ralph Wendall Inman, the third son of Edward and Cleo (Norris) Inman, was born October 10, 1922, southeast of Seymour.  He passed away March 30, 2005, at his home in Seymour. He attended the Farmer Country School near Numa and graduated from Seymour High School.

Ralph Wendall Inman

    Except for two years in northern Iowa working as a union carpenter, he spent most of his life in Appanoose and Wayne Counties.  Farming was his life.  He never lost his love of animals, especially Hereford cattle and horses, from the pony he had at age five to the saddle horse, Ginger, he had until he quit farming in 1995.

  On October 12, 1947, he was united in marriage to Carolyn Rupalo at the Jerome Methodist Church.  They had 57 happy years together.

  He is survived by his wife, Carolyn; son, Dennis and wife, Debbie, of Seymour; daughter, Diane Brozovich and husband, Jeff, of Tracy; three granddaughters, Angela Laughlin and husband, Greg, of Ames, Jill and Heather Inman of Seymour; and grandson, Daniel Brozovich of Tracy.  He also leaves two brothers, Kenneth and wife, Wanda, of Spring Hill, Kans., and Donald and wife, Judy, of Bonner Springs, Kans.; and many nieces and nephews.

  He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Lazelle, Byron, Milford and Arthur.

  Funeral services were held Saturday, April 2, 2005, from the Randolph Funeral Home in Seymour with Pastor Vickie Steffes officiating.  Musical selections were "How Great Thou Art" and "One Day at a Time" with Milton Albertson, soloist, and Mary Parker, pianist. Bearers were Duane Rupalo, Randy Rupalo, Greg Laughlin, Jeff Brozovich, Daniel Brozovich and David

McElvain.  Honor bearers were Harold Swan and Kenneth Swan.  Interment was in the Jerome Cemetery.

  Memorials may be made to the Jerome Cemetery or Hospice of Central Iowa.

Ralph Wendall Inman and Carolyn J. Rupalo

 Gravestone in the Jerome Cemetery

Card of Thanks

  We wish to thank everyone for the kindness bestowed on us at the loss of our husband, dad and grandpa; the prayers, calls, cards, flowers and food; the memorial contributions, those "angels," the hospice girls; Pastor Vickie and the staff of Randolph Funeral Home.  We will never forget. God bless.

  --The Family of Wendall Inman

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  The editor sincerely appreciates the contribution to The Jerome Journal by Richard Inman of Hamilton, Ohio, of the obituary with picture and funeral program above.