Rev. Edmund Kuppinger

Reverend Edmund Kuppinger, 97, of Fort Collins, died March 31, 2007, at Columbine Care Center East, Fort Collins. Rev. Kuppinger was born Oct. 11, 1909, in Chicago, Ill. His parents, Al and Pauline, took him to Germany, where he remained until he was a teenager. He then returned to this country. Rev. Kuppinger married Rosa Dora Wegener on Dec. 22, 1934, in Chicago, Ill. The Kuppingers met in Chicago in a German-speaking church. Rev. Kuppinger went to Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Ill. After he graduated, they moved to Lyman, Neb., as a first full-time pastorate. He served a German Evangelical and Reformed Lutheran Church. The services were mostly in German, but English was gradually added. From Lyman, they moved to Billings, Mont., where Rev. Kuppinger served the St. Paul's Evangelical and Reformed Lutheran Church for several years. From Billings, they moved to Fort Morgan, where they stayed the longest of any pastorate. After Fort Morgan, they moved to Bazine, Kan., and then to Hardin, Mont., from where they moved to Fort Collins to retire. Rev. Kuppinger has served in several churches around the area of Fort Collins as interim pastor while churches looked for permanent pastors to fill their pulpits. Among the churches they served were Crook and Prospect Valley. Rev. Kuppinger accepted a job at the Faith Evangelical Free Church, where he served for 20 years. Rev. Kuppinger is survived by his sons, Roland, of Auburn, Calif., Erich, of Billings, Mont.; and daughter, Linda, and her husband, Ken Shaffer, of Fort Collins. He is also survived by his sister, Elizabeth Culp, of Chicago, Ill.; seven grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. Rev. Kuppinger was preceded in death by his wife on February 24, 1999. A funeral will be held at the Faith Evangelical Free Church, 3920 S. Shields St., at 2 p.m. Wednesday. Pastor Forest Saylor and Pastor Leroy Grimm will officiate the service. Interment will follow at Grandview Cemetery. Memorial contributions can be made to Faith Evangelical Free Church Memorial Fund in care of Bohlender Funeral Chapel, 121 W. Olive St., Fort Collins, CO 80524. Those who desire to view Rev. Kuppinger may do so from 1 to 7 p.m. today at Bohlender Funeral Chapel.