George Merrill Lauppe
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Memorial services for George Merrill Lauppe, 88, Lawrence, KS will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 22, 2023, at First United Methodist Church in Lawrence, KS. We will be gathering to see friends and family at 10:00 a.m. in the gathering area at the church. Friends and family with antique cars are welcome to park around the church starting at 10:00 a.m.
George passed away on April 10, 2023, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital. Graveside services will be held in Burden Cemetery on June 2 at 11:00 a.m. followed by a lunch meal at the Tisdale Methodist Church east of Winfield, Kansas.
George was born on January 2, 1935, in Winfield, KS, the son of Harold Omer and Ione Elizabeth (Ruggles) Lauppe. In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by his sister, Darlene Hart, and brother, Dwain Lauppe.
He married Hazel Marceil Ring on December 27, 1955, in Burden, KS and she resides in Lawrence. Other survivors include his children, George/Monte Lauppe (Annette) and Sonya Anders (Dale), sister-in-law, Jaurene Lauppe, brother-in-law, Neal Hart, grandchildren, Shane Lauppe (Andrea), Craig Lauppe (Lindsay), Austin Anders, Aaron Anders (MiKayla), Augustus Anders, and great-grandchildren, Owen, Cora, Everly, Harper, Adam and AuRoara.
George enjoyed spending time with his family, teaching, woodworking, antique cars, and sharing stories with friends and family members. He passed on many of these skills to his family members.
George was raised on a farm near Burden, KS, attended the Silver Creek one-room grade school, was a Cowley County 4-H member, and graduated from Burden HS in 1953. He pursued higher education at Arkansas City Jr. College, BS degree in education from Southwestern College, and Masters from Pittsburg State University. He served 10 years in the Army Reserves.
Working for other local farmers, George saved money for college. While attending Southwestern College, he worked the night shift at the Armour and Company in their creamery department. After completing his education, he took a position at Haskell High School, currently Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, where he taught Driver’s Education, Drafting, Blueprint Reading, and worked in the Dean of Instruction’s office for 28 years. After retirement, he worked as an appraiser for Douglas County for several years before his final retirement.
Restoring antique cars was George’s passion. He helped restore the 1921 Milburn light Electric Car which is on display at the Watkins Museum of History in Lawrence, his 1917 Liberty, 1926 Chevy Coupe, 1929 Model A and a 1957 Chevy. George was a member of many car clubs, and his first club was the Lawrence Antique Automobile Club. He also was a member of the Topeka Regional Antique Automobile Club, Wichita Reg. Horseless Carriage Club, and Plain Ol’ A’s Model A Ford Club out of Kansas City. He enjoyed many car tours including driving his Model A to Alaska and back.
George and Marceil loved playing pitch, Chicken Foot dominos, and enjoyed eating with a group of friends for over 40 years. Vacations and traveling included many family reunions, plus trips to Hawaii and taking their entire family to the Rose Bowl parade for their 50th wedding anniversary.
Faith was always an important part of George’s life starting out attending Tisdale Methodist Church and later becoming life members of the Lawrence First United Methodist church where he was an usher, attended adult Sunday school, and helped with many committees while making lifelong friends. If he thought he could help you with a kind word, a listening ear, or being generous he would.
In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer memorials in George’s name to the Lawrence First United Methodist Church, Haskell Indian Nation University scholarship fund, Watkins Museum, or Visiting Nurses Association in Lawrence and may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary, 120 W. 13th Street, Lawrence, KS 66044.
Wow, this took me by surprise! What a wonderful man. The antique car world has suffered a great loss as well. Some of my greatest memories is seeing and being around George at the swap meet, at all our 4-H function’s, or just visiting with him when he was on his daily walks, and I worked on the township road crew . Lots of good conversation. Marceil, Monte. and Sonya, you are in our thoughts and prayers. He was a wonderful man, and will be missed by many!
My heart goes out to Marceil, the children and grandchildren and his family will be in our prayers. My husband (Mike) and I had some wonderful times with George and Marceil, and they both were always ready when someone needed help. Our three sons knew them and considered them as their good friends, too. He was one of the men who started the Lawrence antique car club and kept it going for 50 plus years. It won’t seem right that George is not there.
I’m sorry, Marceil, , to hear about George’s passing. You both were such very good friends and neighbors. I remember so well the Model A and the 1957 Chevy. Seeing George work on his cars is a great memory. I loved our years living in Berg Acres. I miss them terribly. The years have gone by way too quickly. Alan cherished George’s friendship. My sympathies to you Marceil, and to your family.
Marceil, I send you my deepest empathy. I am so sorry.
Marcella – so sorry for the loss you are enduring. My sympathy at this time.
Tina and I send our prayers to the entire family.
George was a great man and his cars were beautiful.
Our sympathy to George’s family. I very much appreciated his contributions while he served on the RWD5 Board of Directors.
And Gerald always enjoyed talking cars.
I remember George fondly. He and my husband Ken used to enjoy talking with each other. They worked at Haskell together. He was an interesting man and had a devotion to his family. I worked with his wife Marciel at visiting nurses and send the family my thoughts and prayers.
Marceil – I am sad for you for your loss of your great companion. May God protect you during this time and give you strength.
With lots of memories of VNA times. My deepest condolences.
Thoughts and prayers for you Marceil, Monte, and Sonya from your extended family in Austin Texas. Marceil, my mom Beverly often told us about the special relationship you had starting from nurses training days, and I know we visited a few times over the years. I appreciated your call when my Dad passed a few years ago. Know that she is no doubt catching up with George Merrill now and her family here are with you now too. I have been converting my parents big 8 mm family home movie collection and think I have seen you guys in one from the early 1970s I would be happy to share. My sister Jenny is living on the farm with my uncle in Winfield and I get up there a few times a year to help keep it going. Words fall short at times like these, but the connections you have built with the love of many people over many years will hold you fast.
Marceil and family, we are grateful for having known George when you two were our graduate school landlords for the house on Arkansas. George was just such a nice guy! Thank you both for the roof over our heads (and for allowing our dogs!) as we started our life together (29 years and counting). Peace and strength to you all.