Harold Hupp

Harold Paul Hupp Obituary

Harold Paul Hupp was born on March 11, 1932, to Albert and Opal (Forster) Hupp in Gordon, Nebraska, at the old hospital.  He joined 3 brothers: Vern, Orville (Doc), and Eugene (Pete).  He grew up 10 miles east and 1.5 miles south of Gordon in a house with no running water and attended the former Hay Creek Country School.  The four boys would either walk the 2 miles across pastures or ride horseback to get to school.

During junior high and high school in Gordon, Harold, and sometimes one or more of his brothers, lived in the basement of the former bakery building and worked for John Ukena in the bakery before and after school for their rent.  After graduating from high school in 1949, he went to work for Frank and Margaret Bornemann on their ranch south of the Lyons Bridge.

He married Mary Ellen McCray of Merriman, Nebraska, on October 7, 1951.  They lived on the Bornemann place until he entered the Army in February 1953.  Terrance (Terry) was born in 1954 while Harold was stationed in San Antonio, Texas.  After his honorable discharge as a Sergeant in 1955, they returned to live on his father-in-law’s farm/ranch 9 miles east and 2 miles south of Gordon in Cherry County which bordered his parents’ land.  Tommy (Tom) was born in 1956. Harold and Mary later purchased this property and his parents’ place living there until they retired from farming and ranching and moved to Clinton, Nebraska, in 2002.

In 1964, Franck Diercks asked Harold to work part-time as the Assistant Manager at the Gordon Livestock Auction Market.  In 1965, he went to auction school in Billings, MT, which marked the beginning of his auction career.  He continued working for Gordon Livestock for decades, then worked for Bob and Doug Jaggers at Sheridan Livestock, and later bought the Gordon Livestock Market.  Following auction school, he also began working auctions with Franck and Bob Connealy, and then formed Hupp Auction Service with Mary, Terry, and Tom, while continuing to work the ranch.  After 50-plus years in the auction business, Harold fully retired in 2016.

Harold and Mary attended all of the sporting events involving the boys.  Harold enjoyed raising cattle, horses, and auctions.  In his leisure time, he looked forward to some camping, hunting, and fishing, as well as watching sports.  Most of all, Harold enjoyed spending time with his family—he was always ready for a game of cards or dominoes!

He was elected to the Gordon School Board and served as president of the Sheridan County Fair Board for a number of years.  He was a long-time member of the Gordon American Legion, serving as Post Commander and the Chair of the building committee for the new log addition and again for the current building after the log buildings were destroyed by the tornado.  He was also a long-time member of the Gordon Odd Fellows Lodge (I.O.O.F.), holding every office and serving as the Secretary/Treasurer until the Lodge was closed.  In addition, he was a member of the Tri-State Old-Time Cowboy Association and served as a museum volunteer.  Harold and Mary were honored as parade marshals in Gordon in 2011.

Harold was always willing to step in and help others.  He helped with many benefit auctions, including Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever, 4-H, and numerous other causes in the area.  Harold was honored to be recognized as a Sheridan County 4-H Supporter.  He also received the American Legion Distinguished Service Award in 2006.

Harold was preceded in death by his wife, Mary, in 2012, after 61 years of marriage.  Also preceding him were his parents, his 3 brothers, sisters-in-law Betty and Nadine, daughter-in-law Joni, and nieces Diana Borthwick and Debra Hugen.  Surviving him are sons Terry (Susan) of Spearfish, SD; and Tom (Sheila) of Gillette, WY; sisters-in-law Ellen Hupp and Onda Hupp; grandchildren Eric, Ryan, Shawna, Erin, and Amanda; and 8 great-grandchildren, 4 nephews, 3 nieces, and several great and great-great nieces and nephews.

He was cremated per his request and services will likely be held in June.  Memorials have been established to the Tri-State Old-Time Cowboy Museum or to the Gordon American Legion.  Memorials can be sent to the Chamberlain-Pier Funeral Home, PO Box 366, Gordon, NE 6934