Earl Saupe

Earl Dean Saupe, 80, of Jackson passed away Wednesday, July 27, 2016, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

He was born June 11, 1936, in Shawneetown, the son of Clarence "Doc" Theodore and Ellouise Eggimann Saupe. He and Marlene F. Bodenschatz were married June 29, 1957, in Immanuel Lutheran Church at New Wells.

Earl was a 1954 graduate of Jackson High School. He began his career while in high school, working for his father at Pocahontas Lumber Co. in Pocahontas. In 1958, his father purchased the former Morton-Hall Lumber Co. in Jackson and changed the name to Pocahontas Lumber and Hardware. While his father operated the Pocahontas location, Earl manged the Jackson location. In 1965, they combined the two businesses into one location on West Independence Street in Jackson, where Earl worked until his retirement in 2015.

For over 50 years, he was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jackson, where he was a former elder and Sunday-school superintendent, served on the building committee for the gymnasium, the St. Paul School board, the St. Paul Foundation committee and various other church committees.

Earl enjoyed fishing, bowling, traveling -- he and Marlene had the opportunity to visit all 50 states -- and attending his grandchildren's ballgames.

Loving survivors include his wife of 59 years, Marlene Saupe; a son, Rick (Kathy) Saupe of Jackson; a sister, Loretta (Orville) Fluegge of Jackson; a grandson, Jesse (Sara) Saupe of Cape Girardeau; a granddaughter, Amber Saupe of Jackson; a stepgrandson, Daniel (Stephanie) Leimbach of Jackson; three great-grandchildren, Gavin, Blake and Kaitlyn Saupe; and a great-stepgranddaughter, Lydia Leimbach.

He was preceded in death by two daughters, Cindy and Kim Saupe.

The visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Chapel A of McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson and from 11 a.m. until service time Saturday at St. Paul Lutheran Church.

The funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at the church, with the Rev. Eric Longman officiating. Interment will be in Russell Heights Cemetery in Jackson.

The family suggests contributions be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church or the church or charity of choice.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.