Obituary - Jack Rupe

Jack Rupe, 81, Moscow

Jack Rupe of Moscow died Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2011, at his Moscow home. He was 81. Jack was born Aug. 29, 1930, to Duke and Beulah Rupe in Atwood, Kan.

He spent his childhood in Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado and Missouri, where his parents were co-publishers of various newspapers. Jack has fond memories of the times in his childhood and teen years when his dad would trade newspaper advertising for movie tickets. He developed a lifelong love for movies and acquired an extensive movie collection.

Only two weeks after graduating from high school in Atwood, Jack followed the family tradition of military service dating back to the American Revolution and entered the U.S. Navy. He thought he had moved to "Oz" when he left Kansas for boot camp in San Diego. He then attended the Naval Air School in Memphis, Tenn., and was assigned to the Pacific Fleet. He served with Naval Air squadrons VR-21, VC-11 and VF-51 during the Korean Conflict.

He was a gunner aboard an aircraft that was shot down, and spent 17 hours in the Pacific Ocean with shrapnel in his back. After being rescued he was sent to the veterans hospital in Denver for care. While at the veterans hospital, he met a young hospital volunteer, Delores (Dee) Roatcap. They were married in Denver on May 1, 1953, and soon after he was discharged from the Navy.

His parents had moved to St. Maries, and Jack and Dee followed them to the Northwest, where Jack attended trade school under the GI Bill in Spokane to become the sixth generation in his family in the newspaper business. They moved to Moscow in 1956, where Jack went to work for the Daily Idahonian as a linotype operator. He became foreman of the composing room in 1961 and was in that position until 1969. He then took a job as director of student publications at Washington State University in the composing room. He declined a job as director of Idaho State Printing in Boise in 1971 to stay in Moscow and raise his family. In 1972, he started experiencing health problems related to printing and took a job as director of building and grounds for the Moscow School District. He held this job until retirement in 1992.

Jack was instrumental in forming the Moscow Auxiliary Police in 1964 and served as its captain for six years. During his tenure he worked with civil defense and disaster relief, and helped purchase the first 50 state flags for Main Street. He was on the board of officers and governor for two terms at the Moose Lodge and helped organize the first annual military ball for active-duty military at the University of Idaho, WSU and the area. He was also a member of the Masonic and Elks lodges, the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and was a life member of the Disabled American Veterans.

Because he worked indoors for long hours, he enjoyed outdoor activities during his leisure time. At one time he had an extensive rock collection and a beautiful rose garden. He also shared his dad's love of photography and surrounded his family with beautiful nature photography. He enjoyed traveling and visiting his children in the many places they lived after graduation.

His extended family always tried to get together for Bloomsday in Spokane, and Jack participated for the first time in his 60s and for several years helped push one or more grandchildren in a stroller for 71/2 miles of the race. He had a passion about sharing the history of printing and volunteered at the Roy Chatters Newspaper and Printing Museum in Palouse as a tour guide. He also loved to follow politics, debate them and write letters to the editor.

Dee preceded him in death in 2002, after 49 years of marriage. Jack is survived by a sister of Salem, Ore.; a son of Denver; daughter and son-in-law of Federal Way, Wash.; and daughter and son-in-law of Moscow; along with four grandchildren and their spouses; and two great-grandchildren,

A memorial service will be conducted at 4 p.m. Sunday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Blaine Street in Moscow. A graveside service with military honor guard will be at 10 a.m. Monday at the Woodlawn Cemetery in St. Maries.

Donations may be made on his behalf to Family Home Care and Hospice of Pullman.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Short's Funeral Chapel of Moscow and online condolences may be sent to www.shortsfuneralchapel.net.

Lewiston Tribune, October 18, 2011, p. 5D
Transcribed by Jill Leonard Nock