Dodgeville - Ernest W. Ruppert, age 86, of Dodgeville, passed away on Tuesday, July 30, 2013 at Upland Hills Health in Dodgeville, after a long battle with congestive heart failure.

He was born on September 16, 1926, the son of Frank and Elizabeth (Dalles) Ruppert. He graduated from Dodgeville High School in 1944. He was in the U.S. Army and fought in the Korean War for two years of which one year was with a tank battalion.

Ernest enjoyed many years of farming. He was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus. Ernest enjoyed gardening, bird watching, especially cardinals, watching the Brewers, fishing and loved being together with his family.

Ernest married Delores Jirak on October 23, 1954 and raised 6 children.

Ernest is survived by his wife of 58 years, Delores; his children, Norma (Galen) Baker, of Oregon, WI, Marilyn (John) Blabaum, Ken (Karin Condon) Ruppert, Jean (Scott) Halvorson, Philip Ruppert, all of Dodgeville and Annette (Rusty) Maybaum, of Ocala, FL; 11 grandchildren; 4 step grandchildren; 5 great grandchildren; his sister, Catherine Kopp, of Waunakee and his brother, John Ruppert, of Dodgeville.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Anna Mae Steffes, his infant sister, Elizabeth, his brothers-in-law, Gilbert Steffes and Donovan Kopp.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, August 2, 2013 at ST. JOSEPH'S CATHOLIC CHURCH in Dodgeville. Father Patrick Wendler will officiate. Burial will be held in St. Joseph's Cemetery. Friends may call from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Thursday and from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. on Friday at the GORGEN-McGINLEY & AYERS FUNERAL HOME in Dodgeville.