Ruth De Young Cupery, of Waupun, WI, formerly of Friesland, died on Wednesday, May 30, 2018 at The Christian Home in Waupun. A celebration of life service, with Rev. Carl Boersma officiating, will be held at First Reformed Church in Friesland on Monday, June 4, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. Visitation with the family present will be held one hour prior to the service. Graveside committal will follow in the Friesland Cemetery.
The family prefer memorials be directed to the Friesland First Reformed Church Dorcas Society.
Ruth Joanne Kroes was born in Grand Rapids, MI on November 11, 1929 to Arie and Lydia (Vander Heide) Kroes. She graduated from Central High School and attended Hope College in Holland, MI where she met Eugene De Young. They were married June 10, 1949 and spent their first year in Ann Arbor, MI where Ruth worked at the University of Michigan Records while Gene attended law school. Most of their married life they lived in Friesland, WI where they operated De Young Transportation until Gene died suddenly in August, 1980.
She later married Martin Cupery and they enjoyed wintering in Florida until his death in 1996. Ruth spent the later years of her life in Randolph and most recently resided at the Christian Home in Waupun.
Ruth was an active member of First Reformed Church of Friesland where she taught Sunday School, led Girls’ League, and was a leader in the Dorcas Society. She volunteered at the Continental Manor in Randolph and the Wyocena Nursing Home. Over the years, Ruth worked part time at Jung Seed Company in Randolph and Herbergers Department Store in Beaver Dam. Great joys were hosting family gatherings and spending time with her grandchildren.
She was blessed with four children: daughters, Beth (Jeff) Hahn, Cambria; Paula (Larry) Alsum, Friesland; Amy (Carl) Boersma, West Des Moines, IA; Son, Brad (Martha) De Young, Friesland; thirteen grandchildren, and twenty-one great-grandchildren.
She is also survived by her sister, Annette Vogelsang of Grand Rapids, MI; sister-in-law, Betty De Young of Randolph; brother-in-law, Jim Smedema of Gilbert, AZ; and many relatives and friends.
In addition to her parents and husbands, she was preceded in death by her brother and sister-in-law, Len and Estelline Kroes; sisters, Kay Tharp and Betty Westcott; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Delbert and Doris De Young; sister-in-law, Marlene Smedema; niece, Mary Niemi; nephews, Dave Kroes and Peter De Young; and other dear ones.
The Koepsell-Murray Funeral Home in Beaver Dam is caring for the family. To leave online condolences, or for directions and other information, please visit our website at www.KoepsellFH.com
