Gerald "Jerry" Rupprecht

Gerald “Jerry” Lee Rupprecht, age 73 of Odell, Nebraska died on Tuesday, January 2, 2007 at the Bryan LGH West Hospital in Lincoln. He was born on January 23, 1933 in Beatrice, Nebraska the son of Frank and Emma Gunther Rupprecht. He attended school in Beatrice and Odell and was a 1950 graduate of Odell High School. He attended Fairbury Junior College and received a Bachelor of Science Degree from Peru State College and went on to earn a Masters Degree as an educational specialist from Emporia State Teachers College in Emporia, Kansas. Beginning in 1951, Jerry started his teaching career at a country school in Lanham, Nebraska and then moved across the Kansas line to teach at Pleasant Hill Country School. He then taught the 5th and 6th grades at Hanover Public Schools in Hanover, Kansas for 7 years. From 1960 to 2000, he was a history teacher, class sponsor, athletic director and principal at Odell High School. Throughout the years, he coached football, boys and girls basketball and coached 3 teams to the Nebraska State Basketball Tournament. After retiring in 2000, he substitute taught in Odell, Beatrice and Fairbury. He thoroughly loved teaching children and never wanted to miss a day. He was a member of Our Savior
Lutheran Church in Odell. He enjoyed helping his brother Norman on the farm, milking cows and doing anything he could to help out. His hobbies included gardening, growing flowers (especially hibiscus and large sunflowers), reading, collecting coins and was an avid sports enthusiast attending Husker football and volleyball games. For many years, he was the tournament director at the Mudecus Tournament held in Beatrice. He liked raising puppies, most recently Welsh Corgis. He enjoyed his travels throughout the United States and Russia and had escorted several groups of Nebraska high school students on trips to the east coast. He enjoyed visits and phone calls from his nieces and nephews and from former students. He enjoyed bringing candy and books to his great nieces and nephews and listening to them read. Survivors include his brothers, Norman Rupprecht of Odell, George and wife Norma Jean Rupprecht of Odell, nieces and nephews, Gary and Sharon Rupprecht of Odell, Karen and Bob Fricke of Ashland, Nebraska, Frank and Jennifer Rupprecht of Odell, John and Phyllis Rupprecht of Diller, Nebraska, Ann and Michael Brittenham of Columbus, Nebraska and Jim and Misty Rupprecht of Odell, 10 great nieces and 5 great nephews, many cousins and aunt June Harpster of Omaha. Services will be on Sunday, January 7, 2007 at 1:00 P.M. at the High School in Odell. Burial will be in the Odell Cemetery. Visitation will be at the Vance-Gerdes Chapel in Odell and will be on Friday from 1:00 to 9:00 p.m., Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Sunday at the school one hour before service time.