Barr Memorial Chapel obituary - Timothy L. Druppel, 70, Fort Madison

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Long-time Fort Madison resident, Timothy Loran “Tim” Druppel, went to be with his Lord and Savior Monday, March 1, 2021.  Tim was 70 years old.  Born July 22, 1950, at Sacred Heart Hospital, Fort Madison, he was the 3rd of 4 children of Jerome Ferdinand Druppel and Esther Mae (Heath) Druppel.  

Tim attended Sacred Heart School in Fort Madison before moving with his family to Geneva, Ohio, August 7, 1957, when Jerome transferred to True Temper Corporation at Saybrook, Ohio, from American Fork and Hoe Company, here.  The family found an historic, 1890's, three story corner home at South Broadway and Tuttle court at Geneva, making it their residence for many memorable and treasured years.  Tim, a brother, Paul, and sister, Carole, all attended Geneva Elementary, Jr. High, and High School, with Tim graduating from G.H.S. in June 1969.  In September, of that year, he began his Freshman year at Kent State University.  Growing up in Geneva and living across from a funeral home/ambulance business, Tim developed an interest, over the years, in the funeral service profession and had aspirations of becoming a mortician.  Once entering Kent State, he changed his study from mortuary science to theater arts/acting, but he never lost his love for the funeral field.  

He appeared later in “Summertree,” which earlier in 1967, had been a hit on Broadway and also in “Miss Whitcomb’s Diary” and the TV presentation of “Alice in Wonderland.”  On May 4, 1970, he received his draft notice on the same tragic day in America when members of the Ohio National Guard fired into a crowd of students at Kent State University on the campus commons area, killing five and wounding eight others.  Tim also demonstrated against the war at Kent State-Ashtabula and main campus, one day before the tragedy.  

Once drafted, he never refused to enter the military. He reported with the U.S. Army to Fort Campbell, Kentucky on June 9, 1970, home of the 101st Airborne Division and Combat Arms Group. Following basic and advanced training, he was active during the Vietnam War. He also was stationed at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, Fort Dix, New Jersey, and HQ CO, Hanau, Germany. After his Army stint, he began his Sophomore year at Kent State and appeared in “Wise Guys” and in the musical comedy, “The Whole Truth About Stanley,” receiving good reviews from actor Karl Malden, Tim’s favorite.

Tim worked in Geneva at several places, including F.U.M.C., Hawkins Ambulance as a first responder and Sexton at Evergreen, Mt. Pleasant and Lakeview cemeteries. On May 4, 1976, he was Honorably Discharged from the Army and in September, of that year, came back to Fort Madison with family. He worked a bit for Choey Zeiss and Dade Seavetek. In March, 1977, he began working for Lee County Sheriff’s office at Fort Madison as a radio dispatcher on the 5 pm - 12:30 am shift. After four years, he began working at the Sheriff’s Office and County Jail in March 1981, as correctional officer/dispatcher for the next 25 years, before retiring December 29, 2006, at age 56, with nearly 30 years of service. He began working part-time in 2015 for the Fort Madison Community School District, as a bus stop monitor at Victory Park.

Tim was a #1 fan of classic Rock-N-Roll music from the 1957 - 63 era and liked country singers, Dan Seals, Don Williams, and Charley Pride.  He enjoyed the 60's folk group, Peter, Paul, and Mary and remembered auditioning with his sister for parts for a TV presentation and singing the groups hits, “Where Have All The Flowers Gone” and “Puff, The Magic Dragon.”  

Tim did the most important thing a person could do, receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior in 1987 and besides praying for his family, he also prayed they would accept the Savior in their hearts.  He loved the monarch butterfly, was a huge animal lover and could not stand to see an animal hurt or mistreated.  He supported the P.A.W. no kill animal shelter.  He liked the saying “days go slow, years go fast,” boy how true.  Every December, he enjoyed attending the Barr Memorial Chapel Remembrance Service.  Tim was a fan of the Brewers, Buckeyes wrestling, was a sports fan of Boston and Colgate Universities, the Kent State Golden Flashes, the films “Hoosiers” and “Field of Dreams.”  He liked Psalm 91, John chapter 11 and Hebrews 13:2, where it say be kind to a stranger you may meet for some have been in the company of an Angel without knowing, with Tim having two such encounters, once in Germany and again one day after his Mom’s passing.  Tim had been an avid reader/writer and in 1974, he wrote a TV play called “Expectation Home,” all about a wounded GI returning back to civilian life.  He watched, as a young boy, Mickey Mantle when he hit two homers during a game at Cleveland Municipal Stadium while with his Dad and friend.  In October 1978, he began a costume party for family and friends at his home and co-hosted it with his Mom and Dad annually for many years.  He was a member of Holy Family Catholic Parish, the Franciscan Associates, the Pious Union of St. Joseph, the C.A.R.A., the International Wolf Center and former member of the Iowa State Sheriff’s and Deputies Association.  

Those surviving Tim are two brothers, Jerry L. (Marilyn) Druppel of Ocala, Florida and Paul R (Laura) Druppel of Menifee, California; one sister, Carole S. (Wayne) Nicholson of Orange Park, Florida; three neices: Teresa M (Randy) Huett of Fort Madison; Anna M (Kevin) Springsteen of Burlington and Sarah L Nicholson of Grapevine, Texas; three nephews: Thomas J Druppel of Spring Hope, North Carolina, Christian P (Jill) Druppel of Temecula, California and Bryan W (Audra) Nicholson of Plano, Texas; many great nieces and nephews; great-great nieces and nephews; a host of cousins, and five, four legged companions and best buddies he loved so much, MaMaw, Martha, Michael, Matthias and Daniel.  Tim met his four buddies, four legged ones, that he had loved on earth, Tiger I, Tiger II, Blackie, and Shep at the Rainbow Bridge near Heavens entrance.  They all crossed over and Tim met and embraced his Mom and Dad; grandparents, Loran and Ida Heath, Ben and Rose Ahlen Druppel; other family members and friends, all looking so robust, renewed, no longer frail.  What a reunion!  They are now awaiting the rest of the family.

Per Tim’s wishes, his body has been cremated.  A Time of Remembrance for Tim, where friends and family can gather, will be held from 2:00 - 4:00 pm Sunday, March 7, 2021 at the Barr Memorial Chapel, Fort Madison, with a Christian Wake Service beginning at 3:30 pm Sunday, lead by Reverend Joseph Phung.  A Catholic Committal Service, burial and military rites will be held at a later date at Sacred Heart Cemetery, Fort Madison.  A memorial has been established for P.A.W. no kill animal shelter, contributions may be at the Barr Memorial Chapel, 1919 Ave F, Fort Madison, Iowa 52627.  Barr Memorial Chapel is honored to serve the Druppel family and an online guest book may be found at www.barrmemorialchapel.com.  Please be kind to your family and pets, with love and peace. Tim.

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