Emil Howard Ropp

1925 - 2020

Posted

Emil Howard Ropp, 94, of Kalona died Thursday, Jan. 2, 2020, at the University of Iowa Hospital in Iowa City.
A celebration of life service was held Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2020, at the Kalona Mennonite Church.  Rev. Scott Swartzendruber officiated.  Burial was in the Sharon Hill Cemetery.  A memorial fund has been established for Bible Memory Ministries in Goshen, Ind.
Emil Ropp was born Sept. 18, 1925, in rural Kalona, Iowa, the son of Solomon C. and Vesta (Yoder) Ropp.  He attended school at Kalona and Cosgrove.  He served in CPS in Terry, Mont., and Sequoia National Park in California.  After the war he was a Seagoing Cowboy on a cattle boat that went to Poland.
On Nov. 25, 1948, Emil was united in marriage to Erma Kauffman.  Emil spent his career as an agricultural salesman until 1983 when he and Erma started Country Livin’ and then Wildwood Campground.  He also sold All American Homes.  Emil enjoyed fishing, golfing, putting together puzzles, and spending time with his family.
Emil is survived by his wife: Erma; four children: James Ropp of Evans, Colo., and his children: Jacquelyn (Larry) Bischmann, Jenna (Nick) Pittlekow, Jamie (Justin) Oltman; Juanita (Gordon) Troyer of Kalona, and their children: Andrea Troyer, Patrick Troyer, Christopher (Jody) Troyer; Vivian (Fred) Martin of Washington, and their children: Scott (Alicia) Marner, Teri (John) Ziegler, Jeff (Jenni) Marner; Kim (Kent) Lehman of Kalona, and their children: Jacob (Katie) Lehman, Michelle Lehman, Emily (Isaac) Bixler, Karlee, Katelyn, Rachel, Grace, Faith Lehman; and five great-grandchildren;  sister: Cora (Levi) Miller of Springfield, Ohio; two brothers: Morris (Norma) Ropp of Bemidji, Minn.,  and Paul (Marlene) Ropp of Sarasota, Fla.; two brothers-in-law: Paul Miller of Sarasota, Fla., and Harley Nisly of Kalona; and a sister-in-law: Anna Ropp of Harrisonburg, Va.
He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers: Herman (Gladys) Ropp, John (Violet) Ropp, Leroy (Edith) Ropp and Wesley Ropp; and three sisters: Cleora (Sherman) Yoder, Anna Mae Miller and Norma Nisly. 
Yoder-Powell Funeral Home in Kalona is caring for the family.