Obituary of Theodore G. Ruopp

Theodore G. Ruopp February 14, 1914 - July 30, 2005 Theodore George Ruopp of Hawleyville, Connecticut passed away on 7/30/05 at age 91 in Chicago, Illinois where he was residing with his daughter Kathleen Ruopp. He was born in 1914 to J. George Ruopp and Anna (Schulze) Ruopp and was predeceased by his wife Lydia (Behrens) Ruopp and brothers and sisters, Martin Ruopp, Dorothea Grube, Christa Lang, Ernest Ruopp, Helen Ruopp, Lillian Bardo, Edward Ruopp, and Walter Ruopp. He is survived by his daughter Kathleen Ruopp of Chicago, Illinois, son James Ruopp and his wife Helga of Hawleyville, CT, son Jerry Ruopp and his wife Jean of New Fairfield, CT and daughter Fibian Judith Ruopp of Albuquerque, NM. He is also survived by brothers Paul and his wife Augusta and Frederick and his wife Anita, eight grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. Ted was a lifelong member of Immanuel Lutheran Church and held positions on many of the church boards and was active in the Lutheran Laymen's League. He attended Immanuel Lutheran School and Danbury High School. Following high school, he joined Sipperly Artesian Well Company as a well driller. He was a member Battery D of the 192nd Field Artillery of the National Guard and after the attack on Pearl Harbor, joined the US Navy and served in the Pacific Theater as Aviation Chief Machinist Mate. After the war he remained in the Navy and participated in the atomic bomb tests at the Bikini Atolls while on the USS Shangri La. This had a dramatic impression on him and he enrolled in Purdue University where he studied Physics and Botany and later became a Connecticut Civil Defense Radiological Officer. Ted later returned to Danbury and took over the operation of Sipperly Artesian Well Company with his brother Ernie. He continued to run the company with the participation of several of his brothers, nephews, and son Jerry well into his seventies. He also served as an officer in the Connecticut Well Drillers Association. Ted was an avid history buff, loved working outdoors in his garden and yard, and thrived on lively discussions. Funeral Information Funeral Services will be held at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 18 Clapboard Ridge Road, Danbury, on Saturday, August 6th at 10:00am. Cremation will take place at the convenience of the family. The family will receive friends at the Cornell Memorial Home, 247 White Street, Danbury, on Friday, August 5th between the hours of 5:00- 8:00pm. Donations Information Memorial Contributions may be made in his memory to the George & Anna Ruopp Memorial Scholarship for Immanuel Lutheran School, 18 Clapboard Ridge Road, Danbury, CT. 06811.