Thomas Glenn Ruppert, age 72, of McCook, Nebraska passed away on Tuesday, January 5, 2021 at his home in McCook. Area residents will remember Tom as the cowboy leaning on the mailbox outside various SWATS facilities.
After 13 years of marriage, Tom's parents, Glenn Samuel "Dutch" Ruppert and Loretta Alice Traphagen Ruppert, were blessed by the birth of their only child, Tom, who was born on November 8, 1948 at St. Catharine's Hospital in McCook, Nebraska. He was baptized, received First Communion and confirmed at St. Ann's in Frontier County, Nebraska. For a time, Tom attended St. Patrick's School in McCook. Due to an unknown cause, Tom failed to develop necessary speech skills.
He loved growing up on the Frontier County farm/ranch. He was proud of their UR brand and worked very hard. He could scoop wheat and throw hay bales with the best of them. Always a cowboy, he had pride in his job at the Curtis Sale Barn. Rodeo was his favorite sport. Tom loved to watch old Westerns and was a voracious reader and collector of books and magazines --- his "cow book" --- anything with cattle, horses, or John Wayne. He started his residence at Southwest Area Training Services on February 17, 1983.
Tom was preceded in death by his mother when he was 17 years old, his father in 1998, and his stepmother, Erma Wise Gordon Ruppert, in 2005.
Survivors include his SWATS family, numerous Traphagan & Ruppert cousins, and his step-sister Sherrie Gordon.
Viewing will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Monday, January 11, 2021 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in McCook, Nebraska.
A rosary will be recited for Thomas at 1:30 p.m. on Monday afternoon, January 11, 2021 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in McCook. Mass of Christian Burial will follow the recitation of the Rosary at 2:00 p.m. with Father Gary Brethour celebrating. Interment will follow serviced in St. Patrick Calvary Catholic Cemetery in McCook.
Memorials are suggested to St. Patrick Catholic Church in McCook or to the Southwest Area Training Services "SWATS."
Online condolences may be left at herrmannfh.com. Herrmann-Jones Funeral Chapel is entrusted with arrangements.