John Joseph Rupcich^1,2 (M)
b. 7 March 1921, d. 30 March 2008
Pedigree
Family_Line=N

     John Joseph Rupcich was born on 7 March 1921, son of Petar Rupcich and Kata Rupcich.²

John Joseph Rupcich was enumerated with Petar Rupcich on the census of 18 May 1930 at 10400 Bensley Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, as John J. Reupcich. Listed as 9 years old, and does not live on a farm, has attended school or college in last six months but cannot read or write or speak English, born in Illinois whereas his mother and father were born in Yugoslavia, occupation is 'none', not a veteran.⁵
He attended Tilden High School, Chicago, Illinois, from 1935 to 1938. John started at James H Bowen HS, but didn't like it so transferred to Tilden Technical High School. He graduated from Tilden on 16 June 1938.⁶ After graduation from Tilden, John attended the University of Illinois at Urbana for a year studying engineering.⁶ He was employed by his father, Peter Rupcich, driving a beer truck deliverying beer to retail businesses from 1939 to 1942 at Chicago, Illinois, Facing a probable draft he enlisted in the US Marine Corps in July 1942.^7,6 He honorably discharged after serving in the Civilian Conservation Corps from January 1940 to June 1940 at Camp McCoy, Sparta, Wisconsin. His service included "fence construction with hand tools" at Camp G-151, Oregon and "road construction with hand tools" at Camp BS-3, Nevada.^8,9 He was stationed with the US Marine Corps as a Technical Sergeant during WW2 from 29 July 1942 to 11 November 1945. In late 1942, after completing Marine basic training in San Diego, he returned to Chicago, for 31 weeks of specialized training in hydraulic mechanics. On completion of the training, he proceded to duty in Hawaii with Marine Corps Air Service Squadron 15. He was rated as a hydraulic and aviation mechanic. He was honorably discharged at Miramar air station in Sandiego, California and returned to 10403 Bensley Avenue in Chicago. His service number was: 425860.^10,7 He was employed by Schlitz Brewing as a beer truck driver from 1945 to 1950 at Chicago.⁶

John married Dorothy Josephine Granich, daughter of Philip Martin Granich and Zora Granich, on 2 July 1949 at Sacred Heart of Jesus Croatian Catholic Church, 2864 E. 96th Street, Chicago, Illinois. Wedding attendees included Dolores Marie Radja.^1,2 At age 29, John became the father of Richard John Rupcich on 11 June 1950 at Chicago.² John and Dorothy opened a restaurant on 20 June 1950 at 4040 East 106th near Indianapolis Blvd. It carried their name and for a time was open 24 hours and had as many as 64 employees. The restaurant closed in 1986 because of major changes in the area led by the steel mill closures. They lived above the restaurant with their children spending the summers in a house in Rolling Prairie, Indiana.⁶ At age 31, John became the father of Cathy Ann Rupcich on 6 June 1952 at Chicago.² He was "Commanded to appear Forwith before the Senate Select Committee on Improper Activities in the Labor or Management Field" on 16 May 1958 at 106th and Indianapolis Blvd, Chicago, Illinois. He was to testify what he may know relative to the subject matters under consideration by the committee. The Committee was to be at its committee room : 101 Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C.¹¹ The Rupcich restaurant suffered major fire damage in February 1974. The restaurant was redecorated after the fire and business boomed.⁶ He and Dorothy Rupcich were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary on 10 July 1999.¹² As of circa 2000, John Joseph Rupcich and Dorothy Josephine Granich lived at P.O. Box 510241, Key Colony Beach, Florida.¹ He attended a Granich family reunion at the Heidbreder home with Cathy Heidbreder and Timothy W. Heidbreder on 19 July 2003 at Crown Point, Indiana. A large number of adults and children attended. Special guests included members of the Radja family.¹³ He and Dorothy Rupcich gathered with family members in 2004.⁶ He suffered a broken hip on 28 February 2008 at Key Colony Beach, Florida. He spent a couple of weeks recuperating at Baptist Hospital Rehab, 9400 North Kendall Drive, Miami, Florida.¹⁴ John was flown by air ambulance with wife Dorothy and daughter Cathy Heidbreder from Miami, Florida to Indiana for physical therapy at Wittenburg Lutheran Village in Crown Point, Indiana.¹⁵ He died on 30 March 2008 at Wittenburg Lutheran Village, Crown Point, Indiana, at age 87.¹⁶ He was buried on 3 April 2008 in the Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery located in Calumet City, Illinois.

Last Edited=2 Apr 2008