Elda Roupp
Obituary
HESSTON - Elda Roupp, 86, passed away peacefully on Nov. 13,
2014, in Hesston.
She was born May 25, 1928, in Goessel, to Abraham and
Katherine (Klaassen) Duerksen. Following a five year courtship, she married
Willard Roupp on June 16, 1953. He preceded her in death on Jan. 10, 1997.
After graduating from Goessel High School and attending
Bethel College, Elda was a one-room school teacher before she married and
stayed home to raise her family. She was raised in the Alexanderwohl Mennonite
congregation, where the family was involved until transferring to Hesston
Mennonite Church where she remained a member until her passing.
Elda was raised on a small farm between Goessel and
Hillsboro where she developed a great love for the soil and growing things.
Flowers adorned her yard and she always had a large, productive garden.
Elda learned well the lessons of frugality, stewardship and
conservation taught by the Great Depression as well as those of generosity and
service modeled by her community, church and parents. She managed the home
while Willard spent many hours working to support the family as he and his
brother, Milford, started up the family business of Hesston Concrete Company.
As her children left home, she returned to the local grade
school where she worked as a teachers' aide, developing many strong bonds and
great memories with the staff and students.
Elda loved her family and supported the things they were
involved in, including various missions and church activities. No project was
ever complete without her special touch of unique humor and creativity.
Left to cherish Elda's memory are her brothers, Harold and
wife, Rosella Duerksen of Tucson, Arizona, and Roland and wife, Mary of Oxford,
Ohio; her children: sons, Jim and wife, Nancy of Newton, Brad and wife, Julia
of Ashland, Oregon, and Randy and wife, Kim of Cedarburg, Wisconsin, and
daughter, Renae and husband, Dean Alison of Hesston; along with nine beloved
grandchildren and many friends.
She was preceded in death by Willard; her parents; and her
sister, Erna Schmidt.
A memorial service will be held Nov. 29 at 11 a.m. at
Hesston Mennonite Church. Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Nov. 28 at
Hesston Mennonite Church. A private burial is planned.
Memorials are suggested to go to Hesston Mennonite Church,
Schowalter Villa Good Samaritan Fund, and Mennonite Central Committee, in care
of Miller-Ott Funeral Home, Hesston.
