Delbert Charles Rupp, 89, died peacefully at home surrounded by his family and friends, on Friday, June 20, 2025.
A local service will be held at a later date.
He was born on Dec. 17, 1935, in Cherokee to Albert and Regina Rupp. Del graduated Quimby High School in 1953 after attending Maryhill School.
Del joined the U.S. Navy in January 1956 and spent his entire first year at Great Lakes Navy Base going through boot camp and lire control schools. He was assigned to the US Hassayampa, a sea going tanker, that at that time, homeport was at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
In 1958 he was sent on a WestPac Cruise to the Formosa Strait to refuel ships employed to the Formosa Crisis where he finished his first enlistment and returned home to Iowa. Unable to find work, Del reenlisted into the Navy and served two years in St. Louis training reservists.
While at home on leave in 1960, Del met the love of his life, Marjorie, at a Christmas party his brothers and himself were throwing on the family farm in Cherokee. On Feb. 2. 1961, he asked Marge for her hand in marriage and they were joined in holy matrimony on Sept. 9, 1961, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Ida Grove.
Following their time in St. Louis and the birth of their son David, they moved to Alameda where Del was assigned to the USS Cockrell, a reserve training ship. Afterwards he was stationed in San Diego and the on the commissioning crew of the USS Bradley, a destroyer escort that was also capable or giving gun fire support to the troops ashore on the Siagon River. It was during this time that they had their daughter Anne.
After his time in the service Del moved the family to Paramount while he worked at the Navy Shipyard in Long Beach. It was during this time that Del and Marge bought their forever home on Heather Road.
Later Del would move to the FAA and worked there until his retirement at offices in EL Toro and El Segundo.
Del was an active member of St. Cyprian Catholic Church where he was a member of Holy Name Society, Senior Group and Knights of Columbus.
Del was also an active member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars where he held various positions over the year and a member or the Military Order or the Cootie for his dedication to providing support, entertainment and companionship to Veterans in hospitals and rehab centers.
Del and Marge enjoyed many years traveling by car and on water within the United States and abroad, spending time at their timeshares in Tahoe, Palm Springs and Escondido, where they entertained friends and family and would always manage to find a place to gamble.
Del enjoyed gardening, wood working, working on the house, caring for his roses, being Santa and most of all, being poppa to his grandchildren.
Del is survived by his wife of 63 years, Marge; two brothers, Wayne (Ethel) and Jack (Ruby); his children, son David (Monica) and daughter Anne (Ray); five grandchildren: Ariana, Alec, Wyatt, Austin and Annaliese; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He will be greatly missed by all who had the honor of knowing him.
Services in care of Luyben Dilday Mortuary.
