Primus Suppes, 94, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Sunday, August 3, 2014 at the Park Lane Nursing Home in Scott City, Kansas. He was born on September 28, 1919, in Liebenthal, Kansas, to Adam and Mary (Herrman) Suppes. He grew up living and working on the family farm east of Loretto. Coming from a family of German immigrants, he learned English as a second language before entering school. He graduated from Otis High School where he was active in sports, excelling in football and baseball eventually winning a Kansas State Baseball Championship as shortstop for the Kansas Traveling League.
He served in WWII being drafted into the US Army on March 23, 1942 where he entered Fort Leavenworth Kansas and from there went to Fort Knox, Kentucky where he was deployed over seas. He was a Sargeant and tank commander of the Second Armored Division also known as "Hell on Wheels". His battles and campaigns were Algeria, French Morroco, Sicily, Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes, and Central Europe. He was instrumental in opening the thoroughway as point man in the Battle of the Bulge and served as an interpreter speaking fluent German. Decorations received were the Good Conduct Medal, Distinguished Unit Badge Medal, Bronze Service Arrowhead, Seven Stars and the Purple Heart in the European African Middle Eastern Theater.
He married Delores Engel on February 28, 1949, in Loretto, Kansas. They lived on the family farm, moved to LaCrosse Kansas where two of the children were born and from there moved to Scott County in 1953 where they had two more children and set up a successful farming operation in which Prim retired only a few years ago.
Primus enjoyed little league coaching, playing cards, playing pool, bowling, dancing, attending his children's activities and visiting with his friends at the Co-op He was an avid dancer and as a couple, he and Delores were asked to perform for many functions and weddings. His favorite activity was being with his family.
He was a faithful servant of the Lord and was an active member of St. Joseph Catholic Church. He thought of his church community as his family. He was active in the Knights of Columbus and served as a Fourth Degree Knight. He was an active participant in the building of the new St. Joseph Parish Center and was the first to celebrate his 90th birthday in the new addition.
Primus was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Delores, Parents, Two Brothers - Tony Suppes and Reinhold Suppes, and One Sister - Helen Schuckman.
Survivors include his son, Ron Suppes and wife Shirley of Dighton; three daughters, Nancy Gerstner and husband, Wayne, of Garden City, Debbie Reystead, and husband Mike of Haswell, CO, and Karen Gibbs and husband Mike, of Scott City; siblings Julius Suppes and his wife, Elsie, of Otis, Eugene Suppes and his wife Alma of Great Bend, Clarence Suppes and his wife Mary Louise of Otis, and Ruth Engel of Hays; 12 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren.
Vigil Services will be held at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Scott City, Kansas at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 7, 2014.
Funeral Services will be held at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Scott City, Kansas at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, August 8, 2014 with Fr. Bernard Felix, Fr. Warren Stecklein, and Fr. Reggie Urban presiding.
Interment will be in the Scott County Cemetery in Scott City, Kansas.
Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Wednesday and 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Thursday at Price & Sons Funeral Home in Scott City, Kansas.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to the Dominican Sisters of Peace in Great Bend or Scott County EMS in care of Price & Sons Funeral Home.
