Russell Roy Shupe

Russell Roy Shupe, the son of Roy and Christena (Mathisen) Shupe, was born September 10, 1921, on his parents’ farm west of Audubon, Iowa and died June 26, 2021, at the Friendship Home in Audubon at the age of 99 years, 9 months, and 16 days.

Russell was baptized in 1921 and later confirmed at the Methodist Church in Audubon. He attended Audubon County rural schools then helped operate the family farm.

On August 10, 1947, he was united in marriage to Helen Schade at the Christian Church in Glenwood, Iowa. They were blessed with three daughters Donna, Diane, and Deborah. Russell operated the family farm growing row crops along with hay and oats. He also raised cattle and hogs. Russell was always ready to help his neighbors bale hay and cut silage. Russell semi-retired from farming in 1985. Then in 2008 the family farm became a Century Farm and they were honored with an award from the State of Iowa. During retirement, Russell always kept busy. He worked with his neighbor Steve Mathisen trimming trees for several years and continued to raise hogs on the home place for many years. Helen died in 2004 and Russell lived on the farm until he moved into Audubon in 2016. On January 11, 2021, he made his home at the Friendship Home in Audubon.

Russell was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Audubon. Russell enjoyed the annual T-Bone Celebration and shipped cattle to Chicago for many years and then later to Omaha. Russell was honored as the Grand Marshall of the T-Bone Parade in 2006.

Preceding him in death was his wife Helen Shupe; his parents; his brothers-in-law Don Schade and Charles “Chuck” Buresh; and his nephew Steve Schade.

Survivors include his daughters Donna and husband Robert Daniel of Ankeny, Iowa, Diane and husband Doug Kopp of Solon, Iowa, and Deborah Schmitz of Omaha, Nebraska; his grandchildren Jessica and husband Scott Johanningmeier of Mt. Vernon, Iowa, Austin and wife Christina Kopp of North Liberty, Iowa, Robyn and husband Orlando Vera, Lindsay and husband Tim O’Neil, and Andrew and wife Cassie Heisterkamp all of Omaha, Nebraska; his 12 great grandchildren; his sister Claribel Buresh of Omaha, Nebraska; his brother Bill and wife Coralie Shupe of Sheridan, Wyoming; his sisters-in-law Alice and husband Darrell Heath of Council Bluffs, Iowa and Betty Schade of Glenwood, Iowa; nieces, nephews other relatives and friends.

The family will meet with friends on Friday morning, July 2, 2021 from 10:00 A.M. until the time of the service at the First United Methodist Church in Audubon, Iowa. Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Kathy Kluis on Friday morning at 11:00 A.M. at the First United Methodist Church in Audubon. Interment will be in the Arlington Heights Cemetery in Audubon. The casket bearers will be Andrew Heisterkamp, Tim O’Neil, Orlando Vera, Austin Kopp, Scott Johanningmeier and Steve Mathisen. The family prefers memorials to the Hospice of the Midwest or the Friendship Home in Audubon, Iowa.