Leland J. "Lee" Hupp

Leland Hupp

NORFOLK — Services for Leland J. “Lee” Hupp, 79, Norfolk, will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, June 3, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Norfolk. The Revs. Marc Lim and Scott Schilmoeller will officiate with burial at Prospect Hill Cemetery. 

Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. with a 7 p.m. Vigil Service Sunday at Home for Funerals Chapel at 708 Georgia Ave. in Norfolk. 

He died Thursday, May 30, 2019, at his home surrounded by his family. 

Leland John Hupp, a.k.a. "Grampa George," the son of John and Christina (Scholl) Hupp was born on March 18, 1940, on a farm homesteaded by his grandparents southwest of Clearwater. He was baptized and confirmed at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church near Clearwater and subsequently had sneezing fits on the way to Mass every weekend afterward, which is curious if one is familiar with the legend of why one is blessed after they sneeze.

Despite claims that he traipsed 4 miles through hip-deep snow uphill both ways to get to school in rural Wheeler County, we have reason to believe he may have exaggerated about the commute. But he did move in with an aunt and uncle in Norfolk to attend Sacred Heart School and graduated with the class of 1957.

In 1962, he began his service with the National Guard at Fort Chaffee, Ark., and served in Fort Polk, La.

On Jan. 5, 1963, at St. John's near Clearwater, Anita Warneke vowed to put up with his shenanigans for as long as they lived. Last January, they quietly marked 56 years of shenaniganning together.

The couple lived on the farmstead near Clearwater before moving to Norfolk in 1964. They bought an acre of land and built their home along what is now Old Highway 8 in Stanton County. With the leftover supplies, Lee built his own shop, where he mastered his woodworking skills and sought refuge from the near-toxic levels of estrogen that filled their home as their four daughters grew up.

After retiring from a 38-year career at Vulcraft, Lee focused on making and selling woodworking crafts as the owner of Lee's Woodworking. He and Anita also traveled and wintered at their home in Chandler, Ariz.

Lee was a member of Sacred Heart Parish and enjoyed his time spent with the Northeast Nebraska Woodcarvers. He and Anita also were part of the 49ers and Single Wheelers square dancing clubs.

Survivors include his spouse; his daughters, Kim Matteo of Norfolk, Kelly (Patrick) Murphy of Humphrey, Kristi Hupp of Sioux Falls and Kathryn (Dana) Harris of Pierce; grandchildren Nick (Melissa) Matteo of Madison, Ryan (Richelle) Matteo, Marty (Morgan) Matteo and Hannah Matteo-Hupp, all of Norfolk, Claire (Trent) Wagner of Madison, Alek (Anna) Murphy of Council Bluffs, Molly (Shane) White and Elizabeth Harris, all of Pierce; three great-grandchildren, Kendall, Kory and Rosabella; extended family, Mike and Marge Fecci and their daughters, Annie and Chloe of Omaha; siblings Roman (Pat) Hupp of Oakdale, Barb Stuhr of Columbus, Virgil (Sharon) Hupp of Ewing and Reola "Ann" Volgman of Wisconsin; brothers- and sisters-in-law Jim Nephew of Belleville, Ill., Janice Warneke of Columbus, Arlis (LeRoy) Meyer of Norfolk, Arlan (Shirley) Warneke of Pierce, Angie (Bill) Wiese of Haven, Kan., Arvid (Jane) Warneke of Meadow Grove and Alan (Tammy) Warneke of Battle Creek; and his dog, Willie.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Philamae Nephew.

Pallbearers will be his grandsons and grandsons-in-law. Honorary pallbearers will be his granddaughters and granddaughters-in-law.

 Service Information