Chesterton resident JoAnn Ruppenkamp died Saturday, March 15, 2008, at St. Anthony Memorial Hospital in Michigan City.

She was born on April 17, 1935, in Cumberland, Md., the daughter of Bernard and Mary (Kassecamp) Hardy, who preceded her in death.

On March 19, 1955, in Baltimore, Md., she married Robert J. Ruppenkamp, who survives in Chesterton.

She is also survived by daughters Brenda (husband Ronald) Miller of Houston, Texas, and Cindy Agent of Porter; a brother, Bernard (wife Ruby Jean) Hardy of Ridgeley, W.V.; her four precious grandchildren, Tiffany Jurkash, Dustin Agent, Ryan Miller, and Hannah Wright; and a great-granddaughter, Kate Jurkash. JoAnn made a point of talking to each of them every week.

She was preceded in death by a sister, Gilda Metzner.

JoAnn and Robert moved to Chesterton in 1967. She loved to bake and shop, decorating her house, and doing community service. She also enjoyed traveling with Robert, to Mexico, Jamaica, and they spent two weeks in Rome and visited other fabulous locations.

JoAnn was very active at the Duneland Resale Shop and over the years spent many volunteer hours sorting there. JoAnn and Robert were very active parishioners as well at St. Patrick Catholic Church, and it was JoAnn’s idea to feed the community, which initiated the Table of Plenty ministry at St. Patrick, where she always worked on Fridays serving food and talking to the folks who came for supper.

In addition, JoAnn always supported Bob’s Barber Shop Chorus, attended many Chorus shows, and helped the wives with ticket sales.

JoAnn’s family thank all the neighbors and close friends who have always been there to enrich JoAnn’s life.

A Mass of Christian Burial, Father James Meade officiating, is scheduled for 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Patrick, 638 N. Calumet Road. Visitation is scheduled from 4 to 8 p.m. with a wake service at 7:30 p.m. at Edmonds & Evans Funeral Home, 517 Broadway in Chesterton. Visitation is also scheduled from 10 a.m. Wednesday until the time of service at St. Patrick. She will be interred at Chesterton Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the Table of Plenty at St. Patrick Catholic Church.

Posted 3/17/2008