Esther B. Ruppel

Esther B. Ruppel, 92, of St. Joseph, passed away, Wednesday, December 05, 2012 at Caretel Inns of Lakeland, St. Joseph. A Celebration of Life Service will be held 10:00 A.M. Saturday at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph with Rev. Thomas Batsky officiating. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery, St. Joseph. Friends may call one hour prior to the service beginning at 9:00 A.M. Saturday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church or Hospice at Home. Those wishing to sign Esther’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Esther was born January 7, 1920 in Ypsilanti, Michigan to Henry & Olga Deckert. She graduated from St. Joseph High School in 1938. On November 6, 1943, she married Otto Ruppel in St. Joseph. Esther was employed as a bookkeeper for many years for Wightman & Associates in St. Joseph, and Alberts Insurance in Benton Harbor. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in St. Joseph, and enjoyed attending garage sales, tending to her yard, and caring for her neighbor’s dogs in their absence. Esther will be remembered for always having a smile on her face. Esther is survived by her brother Alvin (Marlene) Deckert of St. Joseph; her nieces & nephews-Dair (Tim Moser) Deckert, Lesa (Chester) Willets, Nancy (Wayne) Klug, Jennifer (Mark) Swanson, Mark (Diane) Deckert, David (Mary) Deckert, & Verne (Pat) Deckert. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Otto in July 1984, by her niece Melissa, and by three brothers-LaVerne Deckert, Robert Deckert, & H. Russell Deckert.