Jacob "Jake" O. Kupp

JACOB OTTO KUPP 1918 – 2015

Jacob Otto Kupp went to his eternal home to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Monday, July 20, 2015 following a short illness. He was 97. Jake was born July 16, 1918, in Chapman, Nebraska, the eldest child of Jacob and Hulda Kupp. He grew up on the family farm outside of Columbus and graduated from Columbus High School in 1936. Following high school, Jake moved to Los Angeles where he worked for Lockheed Aircraft Company during the war. In 1940 he married Bernice Isabel Goa. They had their first two sons, Jake and Larry, in the Los Angeles area before moving to Papillion, Nebraska in 1947. Son Andy was welcomed before the family moved to Sunnyside in 1950. A fourth son, Jeff, then completed the family. Jake worked for Valley Hay and Implement Company until his retirement in 1980. After retirement he farmed his grape Vineyard full-time at his home in Sunnyside. Jake was an active, longtime member of Sunnyside Presbyterian Church, where he served as an elder and a deacon. Jake and Bernice’s greatest joy in life was their family. Family gatherings included delicious meals prepared by Bernice followed by a large card game around the dining room table. Jake loved playing games, fishing and was an avid sports fan, especially if family members were on the field or court. In retirement, Jake and Bernice enjoyed the adventure of travel. They visited the family homeland in Switzerland and traveled extensively throughout the US in their motor home, spending winters in Tucson, AZ with friends.

Jake is survived by his four sons and their wives, Jake and Carla Kupp of Yakima, Larry and Bonnie Kupp of Mount Vernon, Andy and Nancy Kupp of Bremerton, and Jeff and Ruth Kupp of Sunnyside; one sister, Alice Crews of Bellingham; eight grandchildren and fourteen great grandchildren. Jake was preceded in death by his wife of 67 years, Bernice, grandchildren Kyle Kupp and Korie Virata, and his parents, Jacob and Hulda Kupp.

Memorial services will be held Saturday, August 1, 2015, at 11:00 a.m. at the Sunnyside Presbyterian Church in Sunnyside. A family burial will be held prior to that date at Lower Valley Memorial Gardens in Sunnyside. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made in memory of Jake Kupp to Sunnyside Presbyterian Church, 737 S. 16th St., Sunnyside, WA 98944. Those wishing to sign Jake’s online memorial book may do so at www.funeralhomesmith.com  Smith Funeral Home Ltd. and Crematory in care of arrangements. 

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