Gregory D Rupnow

Gregory Rupnow, loving husband, brother, uncle, and friend, passed away on January 6, 2024,

surrounded by family at Rainbow Hospice Care. Greg fought a brave, yet brief and aggressive

battle with lung cancer. He was born on October 22, 1959, to Donald and Margery (Burghaus)

Rupnow in Oconomowoc. He was preceded in death by his father Donald Rupnow, mother

Margery Rupnow and sister Shari Sukow.

Greg grew up in Oconomowoc. He received his baptism and confirmation at St. Paul’s Lutheran

Church and graduated from Oconomowoc High School in 1978. He then went on to attend

WCTC (WCTI) where he obtained his degree in Marketing. While attending WCTC, he met Mary

Hartling, the love of his life. Upon graduation he worked in management for Open Pantry

convenience stores. He later worked for Schwan’s Company as a route delivery driver for over

28 years, gaining a very cherished and faithful delivery route of clients, many of whom became

good friends over the years.

Greg and Mary were happily married for over 41 years and spent most of their time living in the

Sun Prairie area, before retiring in September 2023 to enjoy their retirement property in Sullivan,

MO. Greg loved this property because it allowed him to enjoy wildlife and outdoors to the fullest.

They enjoyed traveling, multiple Nascar races, and spending cherished time with family and

friends. Greg was a wine enthusiast, and especially loved visiting different wineries around the

country. His favorites were found on the wine trail throughout Missouri, and he enjoyed

introducing friends and family to these wineries.

Greg was a founding member of the Odd Fellows Tri-County Lodge #40 and especially enjoyed

Oktoberfest each year, dressed to the nines in his lederhosen. He was also a proud member of

the Wisconsin Company K – Second Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry acting as a Civil War Union

soldier reenactor. Greg was a passionate animal person and dearly loved his dogs. He was a

proud dad to Elsa and Baby Huey, and you would often find him proudly walking the fur kids

down Michigan Avenue in Chicago, following alongside Mary on her shopping excursions.

Greg is survived by his wife Mary Rupnow, sister Donna Griebenow, nieces and nephews Eric

Broom, Lisa Chiles, Elizabeth Meier, Kristi (Jason) Palazzo, Jody Starck, and Jenny

(Christopher) Triplett, brother in law Jim Hartling, brother in law John (Juanita) Hartling, brother

in law Scott Sukow, nephews/nieces in law Eric (Jennifer) Hartling, Jennifer Howell, Heather

Weber as well as many great nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00am on Monday, January 15, 2024, at St. Paul’s Lutheran

Church in Oconomowoc, with a visitation beginning at 9:00am. Greg will be laid to rest at La

Belle Cemetery following the memorial service.

Memorials may be made in Greg’s honor to the American Cancer Society, Odd Fellows Tri-

County Lodge #40, American Battlefield Trust, and Rainbow Hospice Care.

The family would like to thank his caregivers and staff at ProHealth Waukesha Memorial

Hospital, Froedtert Hospital and Rainbow Hospice.

To view a live stream of the service, please click here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndSQiZSWLSs