Obituary: Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin: Frederick RUEPING ************************************************************************ Submitted by Kathy Grace, July 2004 © All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ************************************************************************ Daily Commonwealth, May 23, 1912 Daily Commonwealth, June 12, 1912 F. Rueping is Buried at Rienzl Hundreds Join in Final Tribute to Prominent Citizen Oldest Employes in Cortege One of the largest funerals ever held in this city was that accorded Frederick Rueping, head of the Rueping Leather company, who died May 22, at Lugano, Switzerland, and whose body was brought home for burial Tuesday afternoon. The services were conducted at 2 o'clock this afternoon at the family residence on East Division street. Rev. H.A. Gammert, formerly pastor of Friedens Kirche, officiated and was assisted by Rev. L.P. Peeke. Tannery Employes March A procession of over five hundred men identified with the Rueping Leather company attended the funeral in a body. The Rueping Leather company's plant and the Gidding and Lewis plant closed down today because of the funeral. Participate in the Funeral The employes of the tannery met at the plant at 1 o'clock. The branch representatives of the company and the members of the local office force also marched in the procession. The employes of the tannery were led by four pensioned employes of the company who were employed in the plant during the pioneer days. These men were C. Harbuerger, Chalres Lihrmann, C. Roehrdanz and Carl Rogge. These men owing to their advanced age rode in a carriage. The sales force, which led the procession, included A.F. Gordon, Boston; J.E.D. McMechin, Chicago; S.L. Van Blarcom, Chicago; Jerome Worthington, Cincinnati, Oh.; F.G. Harber, Coldwater, Mich.; Morton Kimball, Chicago, and Carl Mallinckrodt, Northampton, England. The marchers led the funeral cortege to the corner of Fourth and Everett streets, where the lines separated and the men stood with bared heads as the funeral party passed through. Floral Display Large. The parlors of the Rueping home were filled with beautiful flowers. Designs elaborate in details, and bouquets of beautiful flowers were banked about the casket in profusion. The musical portion of the services consisted of verses from two hymns sung by a quartet composed of Mrs. T.S. Arthur, A.E. Isaac, Miss Julia Bernau and Roy H. Bacon. The honorary bearers were C.A. Galloway, G.A. Knapp, M. Waggner, J. Thomsen, Dr. F.S. Wiley, F.H. Lewis, M. Kimball, Chicago and A.F. Gordon, Boston. The active bearers were the six foremen of the Rueping tannery, namely Nicholas Rauls, John Faude, Nicholas Stroup, John Gehde, Joseph Kunkel and John Jens. Interment was in Rienzl cemetery Reach Home Tuesday The funeral party which accompanied the body from Lugano, Switzerland, reached Fond du Lac at 4 o'clock Tuesday afternoon. At Lugano Mrs. Rueping, and her daughter, Mrs. Clara Molitor and three children, were joing by Carl Mallinckrodt, the Ruepping Leather company's representative at Northampton, England, who came through to this city with them. At New York the party was joined by F.J. Rueping, and Dr. F.S. Wiley. The latter who had been attending the American Medical association meeting at Atlantic city, N.J., proceeded to New York and met the Rueping party when their boat docked. Mr. Rueping's death at Lugano on May 22 came unexpectedly and as a great shock to Mrs. Rueping and those where accompanying her on the trip. Mr. Rueping died about 9 o'clock in the evening. He remarked about being sleepy and in a few minutes he was dead. Bank is Closed Out of respect to the memory of Mr. Rueping the Fond du Lac National bank was closed at 2 o'clock this afternoon. Mr. Rueping was a director of the Fond du Lac National and its vice president for a great many years. Flags hung at half-mast upon the various institutions in the city with which Mr. Rueping was identified. The Commercial National bank, First National, Citizens State bank and the Cole Savings bank all closed at 2 o'clock as a mark of respect for Mr. Rueping. Many from Away Among those attneding the funeral from out of town were Carl Mallinckrodt, Northampton, England; A.F. Gordon, Boston; J.E.D. McMechin, Chicago; S.L. Van Blarcom, Chicago; F.G. Barber, Coldwater, Mich.: Morton Kimball, Chicago.