Stephen J. Kupsky, “Tailgunner Papa,” 58, of Gresham, died on Saturday, July 12, 2014. Born on Sept. 29, 1955, in Shawano, he was the son of the late Eldon and Inez (Gebert) Kupsky.
Stephen grew up in the Bonduel area and graduated from Bonduel High School in 1973. Steve served in the Vietnam era as a weapons mechanic for the United States Air Force. On Dec. 31, 1977, Steve was united in marriage to Mary Zoglman. He worked as a truck driver as well as a truck driver instructor who owned and operated his own truck. In his free time he enjoyed watching NASCAR and the Green Bay Packers, and was a member of the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Bonduel.
Steve is survived by his wife, Mary; daughters, Lorin (Rodney) Ketchum, of Gresham, and Bridget (James LeHouiller III) Kupsky; sons, Scott (Cassandra) Kupsky, of Green Bay, Jonathan Kupsky, of Gresham, and Kyle (Briana) Kupsky, of Green Bay; “extra son,” Les Welch; six grandchildren, Elizabeth, Rayna, Lorelei, James, Elia and Evelina. He is further survived by his siblings, Carol (Walt) Matzek, Susan Kupsky, William (Kathy) Kupsky; a sister-in-law, Mary K. Kupsky; and his best friend, Jim “Ace” Mueller.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Mike Kupsky.
A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday, July 19, 2014, at the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Bonduel. Visitation will be held from 2 p.m. Saturday until time of service.
Swedberg-Wendt Funeral Home in Bonduel is assisting the family with the arrangements.
The family requests any truck driver who would like to honor a lifelong driver who loved his trade to join in a convoy rolling past St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Bonduel at 3 p.m. Saturday, July 19, 2014, “horns a blowin’.”
During visitation and after the service, there will be a video camera set up. The family would like to ask visitors to please share some of your memories of Steve, so that they are never lost and can be always shared with his grand babies.
Per request of the family, no latex balloons.