Gerald Arthur Rupert

Gerald A. "Jerry" Rupert, February 6, 1927-May 1, 2017, Music Man. Jerry was born in Mt. Union, PA, on February 6, 1927, and raised in the small town of Saltillo, PA, by his parents, Esther and Arthur Rupert, along with his brother, Dean and sister, Joann. He left Juniata College in 1944 to enlist in the Navy where he served proudly on the USS Lake Champlain as a quartermaster and crossed the Atlantic four times during the war. After the war, he married Ida Mae Miller of Three Springs, graduated from Juniata College and Fredonia State University, and served as band director at Curwensville Joint High School, Curwensville, and later at New River Junior High in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. As Scoutmaster of Troop 133 in Fort Lauderdale, Jerry was on campfire committees at two national jamborees where he helped with music and setup for the opening & closing ceremonies which were always the highlight of the national and international jamborees, was a Barefoot Mailman 50 miler, and received the Order of the Silver Beaver for his dedication and impact on the lives of youth. Jerry grew up in a musical home and played in all bands at the Saltillo schools. He played and taught music in schools, churches, social dance bands, jazz combos, and senior centers throughout his life and retirement--he missed playing his last gig just 3 days before his death. He could play almost any instrument, but he was particularly fond of the piano, sax, trumpet and trombone. When the circus came to town one day in Curwensville, he even took over for a sick calliope player. He played basketball for Juniata College and the Clearfield Cheese. In his younger, bearded days, he posed as Abraham Lincoln for an artist whose resultant painting of historic American events was accepted by the Ford White House. He and Ida were avid birders. He loved crossword puzzles, milkshakes, singing, almost any kind of candy, and playing music for anyone. As his friend, you know that he was a kind man, with a ready smile, who enjoyed life. He whistled and hummed every day. On a recent Mississippi River cruise, Jerry had a great visit to the WWII Museum in New Orleans where he was treated like royalty and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. He was interviewed in March by a representative of the museum who recorded his oral history of his war experience. In February, to celebrate his 90th birthday, his family accompanied him on a festive Caribbean Cruise. Jerry was predeceased by his wife, Ida; his brother, Dean Rupert; and his sister, Joann Kauffman. In addition to many dear friends and family members, Jerry leaves four beloved children, Amy J. Rupert of Port Charlotte, FL; Anne Rupert Mattson of Towson, Maryland; Eric P. Rupert of Coconut Creek, FL; and Paula Rupert Yessen of Erie, CO; and six treasured grandchildren, Eric, Sam, and Jesse Mattson, and Jared, Dylan, and Brenna Rupert. A memorial service will be held this Friday, May 5th, at 2 pm at The First United Methodist Church, 507 W. Marion Avenue, Punta Gorda. Later this year, his remains will be placed next to Ida's at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida. To honor his memory, please consider donating a gift in his honor for music education to one of these schools or your local public school system: Charlotte County Public Schools, 1445 Education Way, Port Charlotte, FL 33948, Attention Ellen Harvey; Southern Huntingdon County High School/Middle School Band Program , 10339 Pogue Road, Three Springs, PA 17264; Curwensville Junior/Senior High Band Program , 650 Beech Street, Curwensville, PA 16833; New River Middle School Band Program , 3100 Riverland Road, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312. Online Guestbook available at www.hardenpauli.com Arrangements by Harden/Pauli Funeral Home, Eustis.