HAUPT, Wallace R. 1949-2014

HAUPT, BAKKER, OLTHOFF

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 3/18/2015 at 11:05:08

Wallace R. "Wally" Haupt, 65, of Wellsburg, passed away suddenly on Sunday, July 27, 2014 at the Grundy County Memorial Hospital in Grundy Center. A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, July 30th at 1:30 P.M. at the First Christian Reformed Church, 12420 185th St., Wellsburg. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, July 29th from 4 to 8 P.M. at the First Christian Reformed Church. A private family burial will be held at a later date.

Wally was born on April 15, 1949 on the family farm in Wellsburg, the son of Henry & Bernice (Bakker) Haupt. A lifelong Wellsburg resident, Wally attended grade school at the Timothy Christian School in Wellsburg and graduated from Wellsburg High School in 1967. After high school, he helped his dad on the dairy farm and drove a sprayer truck for Meint Bakker for several years. He later met Evelyn Olthoff and the couple was married on June 15, 1973 at the First Christian Reformed Church. They welcomed 3 children into their family. After Wally & Evie were married, he raised hogs and farmed on their family farm, where he also sold feed and seed. In 1989, Wally & Evie started the local newspaper in Wellsburg, the Hometown Shopper. He also began computer programming during this time, in which he was self-taught. He worked for Computer Country and then went on to work for Scott Software which later became Smart Software and finally Tac 10, where Wally semi-retired from in April of 2014.

He was a member of the First Christian Reformed Church, where he was a former council member and was also a former Timothy Christian School Board member. Wally enjoyed fitness & exercising, especially bike riding, completing his first full RAGBRAI just this past week. Wally also enjoyed landscaping, photography, woodworking, computers, watching movies, touring wineries and breweries and watching fireworks. Wally always wanted to learn as much as he could, whether it be learning species of trees or familiarizing himself with different types of stereos. He always kept busy and was curious to learn new things, which his family loved so much about him. Wally's true joy in life came from his grandchildren and he was very much looking forward to meeting his 2 other grandchildren on the way. He will be forever loved and remembered by his family and friends he leaves behind.

Wally is survived by his wife of 41 years, Evie of Wellsburg; children Barb (Brad) Vincent of Ames, IA, Deb (Kevin) Kibby of Polk City, IA & Craig (Michelle) Haupt of Ankeny, IA; grandchildren Wyatt & Reed Vincent and 2 more grandchildren on the way, both due in September; 2 step-grandchildren Calvin & Steven Kibby; sisters Phyllis (John) Altena of Grand Rapids, Mich., Lois (Charlie) Diehl of Eldora, IA & Glenda (Dallas) Koch of Wellsburg; sister-in-law Ginny (Rick) Groninga of Wellsburg.

He was preceded in death by his parents; stillborn son Kirk; brother Ralph Haupt.

--Abels Funeral Homes (www.abelsfuneralhomes.com)