Dennis John Rupp

Dennis John Rupp, known to most people as "Dennie" was 73 when he traded in his worn-out earthly body for his heavenly one on March 18, 2020. Dennie suffered from severe health issues the last five-years of his life.

Dennie was born on July 6, 1946 to John and Mildred Rupp, the 3rd of 11 children. He attended country school in the rural Edgeley area when he was young and graduated from Edgeley High School in 1964. He attended the State School of Science, Whapeton, N.D. for one-year before he enlisted in the United States Navy in the fall of 1965. He was an RD3 aboard the USS Gyatt and RD2 aboard the USS Corry. He served two-tours of duty in Vietnam. During "Operation Bold Mariner," the USS Corry entered Vietnam's inland waterways temporarily as part of gunfire, interdiction and support mission. Dennie was part of the Operation Intelligence Division and Radarman, he was responsible for one of the most vital spaces on board - Combat Information Center, analyzing and evaluating all data gathered from the various equipment, which was at disposal. During "Operation Bold Mariner" 10 - 31 January 1969 the operation took place on the Cape Batangan Peninsula, an area which had been under uncontested VC and North Vietnamese control for years. For three-weeks the crew aboard the USS Corry provided gunfire support for U.S. Marine and Army Forces in the biggest amphibious assault since the Korean War. The USS Corry fired over 4,000 rounds against the enemy. On the first day of fire, four Viet Cong Sampans were flushed out in the open and sunk when the USS Corry fired on suspected Viet Cong supply caches and strongholds 30 miles below Saigon. The crew aboard the USS Corry saw shells exploding about three-miles away from the ship, bright flashes over the horizon. The USS Corry remained off the coasts of North and South Vietnam from 21 October 1968 through 2 March 1969. Dennie earned the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze stars and Vietnam Campaign Medal. He was Honorably Discharged from the U.S. Navy on 1 October 1969.

After being discharged from the Navy, he worked at FMC Corporation in Minneapolis, MN as a Machinist. He worked at various machine shops throughout his working career, Melrose Bobcat Plant in Gwinner, N.D. and Maverick Machines, Casper, WY. In 1983 Dennie and his family moved to Arizona where they resided in the Tempe and Chandler communities. Dennie retired as a Machinist in 2010. His hobbies included various wood working projects, making toy boxes for his grandchildren, planter boxes for his backyard. He enjoyed fishing, listening to country music, watching the Chicago Bears and Arizona Cardinals football games. He loved to read, his favorite author was Louis L'Amour and he read everyone of his novels. He loved western movies. John Wayne movies were his favorite. He enjoyed tending to a variety of plants and flowers in his backyard.

He is survived by his wife, Kathy of Chandler, AZ; Daughters Rhonda (Casey) Huddart of Gilbert, AZ, Kelly (Bruce) Barro of Queen Creek, AZ; Sons Christopher of Tempe, AZ and John of Mesa, AZ and his five grandchildren Bostyn and Holden Barro, Sarah and Natalie Huddart and Jack Rupp. Many aunts, uncles, sister-in-laws and brother-in-laws, nieces, nephews and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters Bonnie and Sandra, many aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

An honor service is pending for Dennie and will be held at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Cave Creek Road, Phoenix, AZ 85024, at a later date.