| Bio | Rudolph J. Roper ("R.J.") passed away Sunday, September 24, 2006, after a 5 year struggle with ALS. A funeral mass to celebrate his life will be held at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, September 27, at St. Therese Roman Catholic Church, 7277 NW 9 Hwy, Parkville, with burial immediately following at Walnut Grove Cemetery, Parkville. Pallbearers: Mark Nauser, Francisco Gomez, Robbie Robinson, Bart Strother, Jim Fitzpatrick, and Steve Clark. Friends may call from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday at Heritage Funeral Home, 401 Main St., Parkville, with a rosary at 6:30 p.m. R.J. requested that memorial contributions be given to Welcome House, 1414 E. 27th, KCMO 64108, an organization whose residents cared for him during his illness. Born on September 8, 1946, R.J. grew to be a hellion in Sugar Creek, MO, where his father served as mayor for 40 years. R.J. graduated from Van Horn High School and the University of Missouri. Following college he spent some time in the beer business before leaping into the calm secure life of commodity trading. He never turned down an opportunity to play golf, nap, and visit with friends, if simultaneously, a perfect trifecta. Along the way he met Beverlee and they adopted a Cairn terrier named Angus ("Gus"). To R.J.'s chagrin, Gus compelled the 46-year old bachelor into matrimony to assure some custody rights over the dog. The Ropers moved to Weatherby Lake where they lived happily ever after until R.J. came home with the news that, "I may have that thing Lou Gehrig had where you lose all your muscles and end up not breathing." He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Rose and Rudy Roper of Sugar Creek, MO, aunts and uncles, and Gus, named this week's Happiest Dog in Heaven. He is survived by Beverlee and Agnes (Gus' younger sister), his 3 sisters, Janice Roper, Scottsdale, AZ, Carole Vaughan, Independence, MO, and Rancho Mirage, CA, and Rita Hortenstine, Dallas, TX, nieces, nephews, cousins, and his Aunt Mary Mitchell of Independence, MO. R.J. will never be forgotten by his friends, particularly those men and women with whom he trudged the Road to Happy Destiny. May God bless him and keep him. (Arr: Heritage Funeral Home 816-741-0251).
Published in the Kansas City Star on 9/26/2006. |
