Harold Henry Dupper

Harold Henry Dupper, January 27, 1925 to June 19, 2014. Grandfather, Father, husband, physician, philanthropist, gardener, friend to many, and servant of God. He lived a generous life of consistent, enthusiastic, selfless service; loving people, life, and God. Harold is survived by siblings Elma Lorenz, Frank Dupper, Donna Cordova, and Kenneth Dupper, his three sons, Harold, Bob, and Ron, 7 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. Harold was born January 27, 1925 in a small farm house in Beebe Draw, Colorado, to a young immigrant German speaking farm couple, Henry and Caroline Dupper. He was the second of seven children in the family. He grew up in the hard times after the great depression experiencing many of the difficulties of immigrant families at that time. His children can recall him talking about wearing cut up cereal boxes in his shoes to cover the holes in the soles, and using a pitch fork to spear catfish in the drainage ditch that bordered the farm. Early in his life, hard work became a hallmark of Harold's character. By the time he was a teenager, with his strongly developed "I can out-work anyone" attitude, he took a significant role in the operation of the family farm, where they raised hay, sugar beets, and horses. He also spent many early mornings, and late evenings in the milking barn. But, not all was toil and hard times. Harold always found ways to enjoy life as well. His father had a great passion for horses, which Harold shared. There was pony racing, softball, and Saturday evenings in Greeley taking in the sights, sounds and milk shakes of town. He was involved in 4-H, and the Greeley Stampede 4th of July Celebration was always a big event in the family, as was pony racing at the Pueblo State Fair. Growing up Harold attended the Beebe Draw School where he developed a love for learning. On his 20th birthday he left for the army. After medical technician training, he was assigned to an Italian field hospital as an OR tech where he spent the bulk of his foreign service. He was fortunate enough not to be involved in any significant combat situations. Through his army experience he discovered his life ambition to become a medical doctor. While Harold was in the army a beautiful young woman from Grover, Colorado decided to let the young GI know that folks at home were thinking of him, and began to write to him. When Harold returned from his European war assignment, the communications with Velma continued, a relationship developed and then blossomed. Velma Lorenz encouraged the young man, uncertain about his future, to pursue his dreams of becoming a physician. So, in 1946 he worked on the farm and helped until the beet harvest was complete and in November, enrolled for high school at Campion Academy. Between hard work, sheer determination, the G.E.D. and additional correspondence courses he graduated from high school in the spring of 1947. A few weeks later, Harold enrolled at Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska where Velma was studying nursing. He "kept his nose to the grindstone" – a favorite saying of his – and finished college in three years. Harold never lost his love and appreciation for Union College, and has been a generous supporter of Union. Many will continue to enjoy that generosity for years to come. Velma finished nursing school in the spring of 1949, and shortly after on June 6, 1949, Harold and Velma were married. Harold finished college the spring of 1950, and that fall he started medical school at the College of Medical Evangelists in Loma Linda, California, now Loma Linda University School of Medicine. As always Harold enthusiastically immersed himself in his studies. The first two years were spent in Loma Linda, and the last two years at the White Memorial Hospital in Los Angeles. During the last year of medical school, Lynnetta, the first of Harold and Velma's four children was born. Harold did his internship at Glendale Sanitarium in Glendale, California; followed by a year of general practice residency in Merced, California. Both Loma Linda and Union College are known for their commitment to developing a dedicated, missionary spirit in their students. This was not lost on Harold. Immediately following his residency he and his young family were off to serve as a "missionary doctor" at the Seventh-day Adventist mission hospital in Rangoon, Burma. Harold was a physician in Burma for five years of selfless service. When the family returned to the states for a furlough in 1960 Lynnetta had three brothers, Tommie, Bobbie, and Ronnie. With a sense of "coming of age" upon entering first grade Tommie requested the nick name of his "childhood" be dropped in favor of his given name Harold. Dr. Dupper's family was the pride of his life and the time not devoted to the practice of medicine was invested in his family. During the family's 1960 furlough, the government of Burma was taken over by a socialist military dictator that did not want any foreign influence in the country; Harold was unable to return to Burma with his family. He began to look for opportunities to practice medicine in his home state of Colorado and found a permanent position at the Beebe Clinic in Fort Collins, Colorado. There Harold continued to live life with vigor – another of his favorite words – and enthusiastic service. He not only spent many tiring, but fulfilling hours serving his patients, but was a tireless supporter of his church where he was a life-long member. There he held positions as deacon and elder, and participated as a Pathfinder leader, an organization for the church youth focused on citizenship and outdoors survival training. His children have many fond memories of their father leading the family and Pathfinder groups on many high country outdoor adventures including camping trips, day hikes and backpacking trips. It was in Pathfinders that Harold found and fostered his love for the Colorado Mountains, making Colorado high country adventures one his primary life-time hobbies and past time adventures. Perhaps it was in 1967, after a solo trip up the old "cable route" to the summit of Longs Peak with his 4 children, ages 7, 9, 11, 13, where Harold's love for climbing Colorado's 14, 000 foot peaks was sparked. Harold was always one to live his commitments through action. Although he served on the church board, and on the school board of the local church school he much preferred practical action to being in front of an audience. Through the years his ministry of love to his church has been to maintain the grounds at both his church and its school. Until the day of his death at 89 years old he lovingly maintained the church grounds although he had given up maintenance of the church school grounds to others. Harold practiced medicine with Dr. N. L. Beebe, and Dr. Clarence Hilliard at the thriving Beebe Clinic for nearly 30 years. He practiced a broad scope of medicine including obstetrics and many general surgical procedures. Still today, more than 20 years after Harold retired, many in Fort Collins and the surrounding area will remember their visits to the Beebe clinic, or that Dr. Dupper delivered them at Poudre Valley Memorial Hospital. In this life we all suffer our individual trauma and grief. It was no different for Harold. In the span of a few years Harold suffered deaths his beloved daughter, Lynnetta, and then his wife, Velma, both at premature ages. This was devastating for Harold and began to impact his health. At about the same time his business and physician partner of many years was ready to retire, so the Beebe Clinic closed its doors, and Harold retired for the first time. But, his love for medicine did not retire, and following a few months off for emotional and physical healing, he returned to office practice and seeing patients again; this time with Dr. Sands, still in Fort Collins. Harold's life was one of frugality, and generosity, love of people, and love of life, consistency, commitment, and dedication, and love to his creator whom he loved and served with enthusiasm. Those who had the blessing of interacting with him will continue to be blessed by that interaction and the memory of friendship with Harold, ever known as Dr. Dupper. Life is not all sorrow and grief. During this time of grief and adjustment Harold also experienced the thrill of becoming a grandfather. As always Harold threw himself into this new role with joy and enthusiasm. He thoroughly loved his grandchildren and enjoyed demonstrating that love for them in ways that amazed his children. Like sneaking into the back yard on Easter morning to do the job of the Easter bunny and countless other demonstrations of his love for his grandchildren and pride in their achievements. They remember visits to the Prairie dog town, camping and other outdoor adventures, his vigorous massages, and his bedtime stories about his childhood. A favorite for his grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and all children alike, was his bouncing knee "pony ride" with the variations in gate and speed of the bounce described in German. After Velma's death, Harold, who enjoyed the company of others too much to be alone, developed a loving relationship with a friend and fellow church member. Harold and Wanda were married in January of 1988. Wanda was a gift from God to the lonely, grieving man, and his family. Her enthusiastic, infectious love of people and life in general permeated his life and the life of his family. As a team Harold and Wanda blessed the lives of their children, step children, and grandchildren with acceptance and love. Grandma Wanda and Grandpa Dupper will never be forgotten and will always be held in our memories with love and honor. Although, in 1994, at the age of 69, Dr. Dupper fully retired from practicing Medicine in Fort Collins, he still had a bit of "missionary doctor" left in him. Harold and Wanda completed a couple of extended volunteer "missionary doctor" assignments, one in Brazil on a medical launch on the Amazon River, and the second in the mountains of Nepal. Harold and Wanda had much more love and energy to give than could be received by just one family. So, they spread that love to many more. For years they volunteered for various roles and giving of their time to the members of the church they loved. They have many friends of all ages who sat in their living room sharing their warm conversation, and genuine interest in their lives. You could hardly experience their home and hospitality without sitting at their table enjoying the legendary meals lovingly created by the ever busy and gifted hands of Wanda. Many young college students have enjoyed relaxing Friday evenings, and home cooked meals as Harold and Wanda for many years hosted their bible study and fellowship group. Team Harold and Wanda, became a single pillar of acceptance, love, and blessings to every life they touched. It was impossible to think of one without the other, although they had their own individual gifts they were blended as one to bless the many lives with whom they interacted. As their children walked into Harold and Wanda's house after their death the children observed evidence of the couple's continuing love and service; the children observed the texts for the ongoing bible studies lying on their table and places in their freezer made empty when Wanda's homemade bread had recently been shared with someone who needed love and encouragement. The couple's love was not just a concept, but was always shared in tangible ways. You could not know them without knowing that they genuinely loved and cared and gave. Whether you know them as Brother, Uncle, Sister, Aunt, Dad and Wanda, Grandpa and Grandma Wanda, Wanda and Dr. Dupper, Harold and Wanda, or Pepa, and Mema, you love them, and will sorely miss them. Sleep in peace dear Harold and Wanda, for you it will be but a moment until the Lord Jesus Christ returns to call home all who, as you, have accepted His grace. What a thrill that will be to be re-united with you in the earth made new. Rest in peace until that day. Dr. Harold Dupper's family is very grateful for your support and prayers. Instead of sending flowers please consider making a memorial contribution through the Bohlender Funeral Home designated to either the Poudre Valley Hospital Foundation or the Fort Collins Seventh-day Adventist Christian Church Grounds Maintenance Fund or to a charity of your choice.