Norman P. Rupp

Norman P. Rupp was born January 13, 1930 to Henry and Annastasia (Kohns) Rupp on the family farm one mile east of Maryhill Church, Cherokee County, IA.  He became the 8^th child of soon to be ten children.  He grew up on the family homestead farming and raising livestock, mainly cattle.  He said his dad could look at a steer and tell its weight within a couple pounds.  After graduating high school from Immaculate Conception in Cherokee, he went to Washington DC in 1950 to go to college. Norman worked for Senator Gillette and became close friends with him. 

On a trip home to Cherokee, he was serving Mass as an Alter boy and met Barbara Ellen Sivinski, who was home from being a novice at a Sioux City convent to care for her mother and two younger brothers, Joe and Jim.  They married at Immaculate Conception Church on January 27, 1951.  Norman left for North Carolina for basic training and then for the Korean War where he first served as a typist and then insisted on serving on the front lines to get back home sooner. His mother passed away while he was in Korea and his daughter was born while he was on the front lines. He did not get back home until she was several months old.  His father passed away a short time after his return to the states.

Norman began selling cars and then later auto parts at Brown Auto Supply.  He opened Motor Parts Sales on West Cedar Street in 1965 and later opened stores in Holstein and Marcus.  He retired at the age of 81.  He loved traveling, camping, fishing, playing cards, tinkering, fixing all kinds of things, but most importantly, spending time with family and friends.  He loved going to his cabin on West Lake Okoboji to fish and visit with friends and family. 

On June 17, 2023, Norman passed away in Cherokee, IA,  at the age of 93.  He is preceded in death by his wife, Barbara, his parents, Henry and Annastasia, and seven of his ten siblings. 

He will be remembered by his four children, daughter, Pam Rupp of Cherokee and her children: Amber Green, Loki Holmes of Greeley, CO, Anastasia Zink of Minneapolis, MN, and Sara Rupp-Moody of Omaha, NE;  son, Gregory (Renee) Rupp of Cherokee and their children: Christina (Dean) Hansen and Erica Wunschel of Albert Lee, MN, Angela Rupp and Brendan Rupp, Samantha Conley and Kieren Conley of Sioux Falls, SD, Timothy J. Rupp and Bryson Rupp of Cherokee, IA, Amanda Rupp and Jamie Lamb of Can More, Canada, and Michael and Kelsey Rupp and Eva Rupp, Scarlet Rupp and baby boy Rupp due November 2023;  son, Brad (Nancy) Rupp of Davenport, FL and their children: Sara (Josh) Jachaway and Boston and Weston of Kansas City, MO and Jessica (Dustin) Bailey and Ethan and Avery of Lakeland, FL;  and daughter, Lori (Rob) Rupp LaFleur and their children, Karl (Paula) LaFleur, Katherine (Andy) Thomas and Teddy; and Anna LaFleur, all of Minneapolis, MN; sister Josephine (Glenn) Tuttle of Oregon, brother, Beryl (Louise) Rupp of Oregon, sisters in law, Carla (Ed) Hines of Lincoln, NE, Collette (Joe) Sivinkski of Cherokee, IA, and many cousins, nieces and nephews.