Imelda Ruopp

Imelda Roberta Ruopp, 88, of Cape Girardeau died Saturday, March 21, 2009, at Ratliff Nursing Home.

She was born May 15, 1920, in Bloomsdale, Mo., in Ste. Genevieve County, daughter of Robert Peter Carron and Florence Schweiss Carron. Imelda and Dudley Graham Ruopp were married Jan. 13, 1946, in Bloomsdale. Imelda assisted her husband in their practice of chiropractic business more than 40 years. She was a homemaker and mother of eight children.

She graduated from St. Elizabeth Academy in St. Louis in 1938, then worked with her father in the Bank of Bloomsdale from 1939 to 1945. She volunteered for the American Red Cross blood drives, Meals on Wheels and the Birthright Foundation for many years of her retirement. She was active in the Mission Club and RCIA Catholic organizations through St. Vincent and St. Mary's parishes.

Imelda is survived by her husband, Dr. Dudley Graham Ruopp of Cape Girardeau; three daughters and four sons, Susan Fields (Bob) of Round Rock, Texas, Carol Jackson (Jerry) of Nashville, Tenn., Andrea Jane Burnett (Jim) of O'Fallon, Ill., Mike Ruopp (Joyce) of Cedar Hill, Mo., Dr. Patrick Ruopp (Janet) of Cape Girardeau, Dr. Jack Ruopp (Janice) of Cape Girardeau and Mark Ruopp (Theresa) of Bloomsdale; a sister, Anita Schilly of Bloomsdale; 22 grandchildren, Chuck Fields and Heather Fields Mayer of Austin, Texas, Christy Ruopp of Fayetteville, Ark., Jason Ruopp of Gravette, Ark., Chris Greer, Amy Welch, both of St. Louis, Gretchen Jackson of Nashville, Tyler Ruopp of O'Fallon, Billie Jo Robinson of Poplar Bluff, Mo., Hannah Robusto, Brenton, Alyssa, Brittney, Jill, Rachel, Erica, Megan, Jacklyn and Graham Ruopp, all of Cape Girardeau, Rebekah Roth, Sarah DeClue and Nathan Ruopp, all of Jackson; and 18 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, Glennon and Milton Carron; a son, Timothy Ruopp; and a niece, Glenda Carron.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Chapel, with parish prayers at 7:30 p.m.

The funeral will be at noon Monday at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, with the Rev. David Hulshof officiating. Entombment will be at Cape County Memorial Park Mausoleum. Pallbearers will be Chuck Fields, Nathan Ruopp, Jason Ruopp, Brenton Burnett, Tyler Burnett and Graham Ruopp.

Memorials may be made to Birthright.