Lowell E. “Sie” Rupp, 90, of Lake Wales, Fla., passed away Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021, at Winter Haven Hospital in Winter Haven, Fla. He was born Feb. 5, 1931, in Wauseon to the late Sylvan and Pearl Rupp. He married Jueldine F. Nofziger, his wife of 67 years, in 1953, and she survives.
Sie graduated from Pettisville High School in 1949. After two years in 1W service in Fremont, Ohio, he and Julie moved to a farm northeast of Archbold in 1956. In addition to farming, he was seasonally employed as a silo builder with Nofziger Silo Company.
In 1963, Sie and Julie bought Northwest Ohio Silo, and soon after moved the business to Pettisville. In the ’70s the company built approximately 100 stave silos and 80 concrete silos per year in Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan. During this time, the couple also operated farms in Michigan and Ohio.
In 1978, 5R Ranch near Lake Wales, Fla. was purchased. They lived in a home on the property for eight months a year for the last 30 years, and spent four months a year in Archbold. Sie was an active member of West Clinton Mennonite Church in Ohio and South Lake Wales Church of God in Florida.
Those who have known Sie can appreciate that he was a very hard worker and was determined to succeed at whatever task he was called to do. He had a unique way of working with others, validating their worth while respecting each of their abilities and talents.
Sie was generous with his time and resources. He volunteered for 10 years at Lake Wales Care Center.
He is also survived by three children, Rick Rupp (Lisa) of Winter Haven, Fla., Russ Rupp (Rita) of Westminster, Colo., and Patricia Stringer (Matt) of Archbold; 10 grandchildren, Dustin Rupp, Brett Rupp (Anissa), Dillon Rupp, and Connor Rupp, sons of Rick; Jason Rupp (Danielle), Landon Rupp, and Jenae Manning (Nathan), children of Russ; and Cole Stringer, Brandon Fry (Jenale), and Gabriel Stringer, sons of Patricia; 10 great-grandchildren; and sisters, Marcile Nofziger of Archbold and Margaret (Carl) Smeltzer of Harrisonburg, Va.
He was also preceded in death by his sisters, Melva (Doyle) Short, Betty (Clifford) Liechty, Bernice (Ward) Hartzell, and infant sister, Janice; brother, Roger (Peggy); brothers-in-law, Doyle Short, Cliff Liechty, and Merrill Nofziger; and great-grandson, Rousch Denver Fry.
No local service is scheduled at this time. A virtual Celebration of Life will be available in the coming months at www.marionnelsonfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements will be made by Marion Nelson Funeral Home in Lake Wales, Fla.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Lake Wales Care Center, 140 E. Park Ave., Lake Wales, Fla. 33853; South Lake Wales Church of God – Building Fund, 201 Presidents Drive, Lake Wales, Fla. 33859; West Clinton Mennonite Church —Educational Grant Fund, 18029 County Road C, Wauseon Ohio 43567; or Fairlawn Haven, 407 E. Lutz Road, Archbold, Ohio 43567.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.marionnelsonfuneralhome.com. To Plant Memorial Trees in memory, please visit our Sympathy Store.