James Ruppe

He was born on Nov. 27, 1932, in Lake Linden, and was a lifelong resident of Houghton. He was the son of Peter Edward Ruppe and Antoinette Bosch Ruppe, and brother of Joseph B. Ruppe and Philip E. Ruppe.

Jim was deeply proud of his family’s ties to the Copper Country.  He traced his roots back to the copper mining boom of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His paternal grandfather, Peter Sr., emigrated to America from Slovenia in 1854 and established the P. Ruppe & Sons store in Hancock in 1866, with a second store in Calumet and a third in L’Anse to follow. His maternal grandfather, Joseph Bosch, an early settler to the area, founded the Bosch Brewing Company, one of the most successful regional breweries in Michigan. 

When Joseph died, Antoinette and Katherine “Katchen” Bosch, Jim’s mother and aunt, operated the brewery together with Jim and his brother Philip, until it was sold in 1965.  

Jim graduated from Cranwell School, attended Georgetown University, and received his M.B.A. from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Business. In addition to his role with Bosch Brewing, Jim’s varied career included stints managing timber operations in Texas and serving as president of the First National Bank of Calumet-Lake Linden. 

He is survived by his brother, the Honorable Philip E. Ruppe; nieces, Antoinette Ruppe Greenberg, Adele Ruppe (Peter Grant), Katherine Ruppe (Kevin Jarvis), Mary Ruppe Nash (Stuart), Coletta Ruppe Ivy (Grady), and Katchen Ruppe Benak (Mark); and numerous grandnieces and grandnephews.

Jim was predeceased by the love of his life, Anita Mangels, with whom he enjoyed nearly 50 years of companionship and travel around the world. 

A Celebration of Life will take place in the chapel on the first floor of Charter House, 211 2nd Street NW, Rochester, MN 55901 on Thursday, June 26, at 10 a.m., with a reception to follow on the 22nd floor. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Ronald McDonald House.