Jay Haupert

Funeral services for Jay Haupert were held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, November 1, 2013 at the First United Methodist Church, Jefferson, Iowa.  Visitation was from 5:00 p.m. till 7:00 p.m. Thursday at the First United Methodist Church. Reverend Julie E. F. Poulsen of the First United Methodist Church and Pastor Larry Monthei of the Cooper Methodist Church provided words of comfort.
Honorary casket bearers were Jackie and Sam Langstaff, Sonny Kolbe, Ron Juergens, Willard Hostetler, Skeeter Wilber, Arlon Yepsen, Ferrol Miner, LeRoy Cochran, James H. Andrews, Bob Monthei and Clare Book. Casket bearers were Nathan Haupert, Bret Haupert, Rachel Haupert, Stacy Mark, Tyler Mark, Jason Haupert, Alysha Haupert and Shelley Haupert. The pianist was Danielle Curtis and Singers were Kenny and Deb Monthei.
Songs were Beyond the Sunset; His Eye is on the Sparrow, In the Garden, Because He Lives and It Is Well with My Soul. The usher was Bill Kemph. Military honors were provided by the Iowa Army National Guard Funeral Honors, VFW Post 9599 & American Legion Floyd W. Brown Post 11 of Jefferson. Interment was at the Jefferson Cemetery.
Rex “Jay” Haupert, 92, son of Barton Lester Haupert and Minnie (Lee) Haupert was born January 12, 1921 on his parents’ farm near Jamaica, Iowa and died October 29, 2013 at Regency Park Nursing and Rehabilitation in Jefferson, Iowa where he had lived the past seven years. Jay, as he was lovingly known and preferred, lived in various communities including Perry, Paton and then Jefferson when he was a junior in high school. Jay graduated from Jefferson High School in 1939 and attended Iowa State College in Ames. Jay was afflicted with Polio when he was just four years old, but he never let the effects of the disease slow him down. Jay was inducted into the U. S. Army September 24, 1942. Due to his prior training in Morse Code and his Civil Service Clearance Jay served with communications and was a Radio Repairman both in Brazil and stateside. He was discharged October 29, 1945 at Camp Crowder, Missouri, as a Technician Third Class with a Good Conduct Medal and American Theater of Operations Ribbon. After his honorable discharge he worked for Jones Hardware and passed the Civil Service Exam which opened up a position carrying mail. He was united in marriage with Betty Ann Dozier on September 2, 1947 at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. They celebrated 55 years of marriage before Betty’s death in 2003. Jay and Betty were parents of three sons, Steve, Gary and David. The couple started farming near Jefferson and later farmed near Lytton and Odebolt. In the fall of 1955 they moved back to Jefferson and 1966 to a farm south of Jefferson. They farmed there until 1983 when they retired and moved into town. From 1957 to 1959 Jay worked for the USDA, testing feed. A large part of Jay’s life had been baseball and later fast pitch softball. For many years he played Semi Pro Baseball and caught his brother Jack. They were a dynamic duo, traveling all over Greene County and elsewhere to play baseball, including Rippey, Cooper and Boxholm. In the 1950’s Jay played town team softball. He never missed listening to or viewing a World Series Game. Jay always enjoyed his children’s and grandchildren’s sporting events and activities.  Jay loved his life on the farm, being outdoors, the changing seasons and his animals. The County and State fairs were always important to him. His many years as a 4-H member were very special, too. Jay took some time off to hunt, which he also enjoyed very much. Jay was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Jefferson, the VFW Post 9599 and Morning Star Masonic Lodge 159.
He was preceded in death by wife Betty, granddaughter Jackie Langstaff and her husband Sam, and brother Jack. Jay will lovingly be remembered by his sons: Steve and wife Carla; Gary and wife Shirley and David and wife Sheri all of Jefferson. Five grandchildren: Nathan Haupert and wife Shelly; Bret Haupert; Rachel Haupert; Stacy Mark and husband Tyler and Jason Haupert and wife Alysha: great-grandchildren: Onna and Jossa Haupert; Harper Mark and Hailey Haupert; brother Gene Haupert and wife Georgia of Lawton, OK; cousins, nieces, nephews other relatives and many friends.