HUMBOLDT, Iowa - Lance C. Ropte, 58, of Humboldt, Iowa, died June 14, 2007.
He was born Feb. 8, 1949, in Fort Dodge, to Harold and Irene Rentsch Ropte. On July 12, 1975, in Ypsilanti, Mich., he married Ruth Cole, who survives.
He served seven years of active duty in the U.S. Air Force, stationed in Germany; the Indiana, Michigan and Iowa Air National Guard for 19 years; and in Hungary during the Bosnian Campaign in the 1990s. He graduated from Humboldt High School in 1967, Grace College in 1979, and attended Grace Theological Seminary for a year and a half. He then went to work for UPS and North Supply Co. before becoming manager of Warsaw Airport for seven years. After returning to Iowa, he worked at Smithway Trucking, Fort Dodge. He was a member of Oak Hill Baptist Church where he was active in Awana, served on the trustees board, as a 5th and 6th Grade Sunday school teacher and on the Christian Education Board, and sang on a worship team. He coached his children's soccer teams. He raised pigs, chickens, goats and sheep.
Also surviving are six children, David Ropte, Des Moines; Daniel Ropte, Noblesville; Mrs. Mark (Amy) Johnson, Windom, Minn; Joshua Ropte, Fort Dodge; and Amanda and Jason Ropte, both of Humboldt; two grandchildren; four brothers, Robert Ropte, Fort Dodge, and Kenneth, Keith and Nile Ropte, all of Humboldt; and two sisters, Mrs. Kenneth (Joyce) Thompson, Humboldt, and Mrs. Willis (Donna) Heide, DeKalb, Ill. He was preceded in death by a brother.
Services were at 2 p.m. today at Oak Hill Baptist Church, Humboldt, with the Rev. Richard Lauger officiating. Burial was in Zion Cemetery, Humboldt.
Mason-Lindhart Funeral Home, Humboldt, was in charge of arrangements.
